PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, OR THE LATE SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1195, 21 November 1873, Page 2

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, OR THE LATE SHOW.

(To the Editor of the Eventxo Star.) Sir, —A well-known writer lias said with reference to truth that even by those that practice it not that clear and round dealing is the honor of man's nature. We find, however, that in too many instances where public opinion in Auckland is brought to bear against the judgment of a few private individuals that true nobility of character is often sacrificed on the the altar of questionable consistency and expediency. One striking feature in the late show was that prizes were awarded for mere toys, while many articles of real practical value were passed by as apparently unworthy of the most commonplace recognition. Ho long, sir, as our judges allow competitors to run after them begging for prizes, and so long as prizes are awarded for articles which are not only valueless in themselves, but do not represent in the least , degree the trade or profession to which the competitors profess to belong —so long, moreover, will there be good cause for honest tradesmen objecting to exhibit useful articles, and our shows will continue to be a mere sham, with competitors few and far between, while our Market will continue glutted with inferior articles of foreign manufacture. There is another evil connected with our Auckland shows, which is also highly prejudicial to legitimate emulation. I refer to the foolish parading of former testimonials around the articles exhibited. Former testimonials have nothing practically to with tho present, and

may at the same time unconsciously tend to guide the judges in their decisions instead of being guided by tlie quality of the articles themselvos. There is a another thing which would tend more than anything else to make our exhibitions a success, and which ought to be one of the conditions under which competitors should be admitted, namely, that every article should have the selling price attached thereto. This would not only tend to encourage tradesmen to bring forward articles of practical value and _ use,_ byt it would keep useless articles of imaginary worth from being brought to an ordinary show instead of a faucy bazaar. As an instance of this no one could help admiring the straightforward and business-like manner in wbicli a Mr Allender, of Parnell, placed his goods before the public. There was not only an unequalled display of soap and candles of all qualities—from the magniticent blue mottled and Al yellow down to Hoft soap itself—but the selling prices were also put in plain figures, stating the price per ton of the former and per pound of the latter. In conclusion I trunt that we may have our shows in future conducted on better principles, and that competitors Bnd testimonials may alike be kept in the background until the judges shall have first gone their rounds and awarded the prizes. —I am, &c.j Ak Observer.