SHOW ORGANISATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 135, 30 July 1941, Page 5

SHOW ORGANISATION

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CIIILr DREN'S COMPETITIONS BETTER FACILITIES SOUGPIT Members of the executive committee of the-Bay-of Plenty Winter Show Association and representatives of the Children's Coirif petitions Committee met on Monday night in the Borough, Council Chambers for the purpose of strengthening the organisation and improving the conditions under which the children's sections have been he-lid. in the past. In introducing the business of tha meeting, the president, Mr A. J. Canning, thanked all those who had helped in the past, in particular mentioning the teachers of the school who had given many years valuably service. Mr was the first speaker outlining suggestions for improving thn facilities offered the children for the competitions, stressing the fact that the programme was growing larger each year and in his opinion had reached the .stage where they Avere too lengthy to be held one day. His view was supported bj T - Miss Whiteside who pointed out that the day was a very long and tiring one for the children, particularly those competitors from 'the country districts who did not leave for home, until late at night. She felt that the competitions sliouM be spread over more than one day. Tracing the. progress of the association since its inception Mr W. Sullivan stated that a certain amount of pioneering still remained to be done, and the competitions and the facilities offering were not all that could be desired, or wero. ■desired by the Association Committee. It had been hoped by some that "better facilities would, be provided "by the building of a hall for the town, continued the speaker, adding that this Avas not in sight as y'et, ' hoAvever. Another scheme which would overcome many of the present difficulties had been under consideration 'before the Avar, when it was hoped to move the present show building to the A. and P. grounds and jiotm forces with that organisation. The conditions brought about by the wai had been responsible for this suggestion being postponed, and he appealed to those interested in the welfare of the Association to, in the meantime, make the best of the facilities prevailing. When the Avar was over it was likely that more progress -could be made. He concluded by saying that the Association had commenced in a small Avay and had groAvn gradually to. the position it held to-day, which was one of which the members could feel in no Avay ashamed. The activities of the Association had. and would in the future, play a large -part in the development of the district, while the children's 1 competitions were a valuable draAV and a ■great advertisement. He hoped that "the organisation would carry on r.s it had done and Avas sure that all possible would be done to make the facilities as good was in the poAver of the Association.

Mr Goodwin, of the Poroporo School, stated that, as a newcomer to the district, he had been pleasantly surprised with the magnitude of the competitions and the standard and considered that this high standard of children's performances had been the result of the Inter-school competition provided by the Association. He, however, agreed that the conditions were not as good as desired particularly for the country children, who had fpund the cl jy long and tiring, Mr C. C. stated that there was a certain amount of dis/jwUisfac'tion regarding the facilities, the chief complaint being that the marquee was not suitab'fc for the ■evening concert. He added that lit was in the position to view the question from both sides and saw the difficulties and reasons for compi ain't by the parents, while at the same time he appreciated the difficulties of the Association. It was generally agreed that the arrangements were not all that could be desired, and on the motion of Mr L. R. Spring a decision was arrived at, which, with its operation next year, would tend to make the day less tedious for the children. This was that the competitions! be held during show week and during tlif following week the conccrt be held in a suitable building; that the committor* be that already set up with the addition of three of the executive committee members.