TWO LOCAL SHOW BODIES SHOULD BE AMALGAMATED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 59, 21 June 1950, Page 5

TWO LOCAL SHOW BODIES SHOULD BE AMALGAMATED

With the rapidly increasing growth of Whakatane and surrounding district a problem has arisen over both land and building space for the Bay of Plenty Winter Show Association. The present hall is now too small not only for a show, but for the increasing number of sporting bodies that use it at nights.

A revenue of some £250 a year is collected from various clubs and dance parties and the participants have to travel from the centre of population to the extreme end of

the town. However no real development of the show can be made until a larger show hall is built near Where the people live. There are endless possibilities in a larger hall and land space.

Using Public Roads It is not realised that the present

winter show is the only show in

New Zealand that has to make use of public roads to conduct its busi>ness.

In 1939, just 11 years ago, these outlined facts were recognised by the present Minister of Labour, Mr W. Sullivan, and Messrs K. R. Kent

and L. R. Spring. They submitted a lengthy report dealing with a proposed amalgamation of the Whakatane and Rangitaiki A. and P. and the Winter Show Association. At

this stage it was proposed to shift

the present winter show hall to the Whakatane Domain and pool the assets of the two bodies. Due to the war nothing further was done

until June 1946 when the following committee from both associations met to consider new amalgamation proposals:—Messrs W. G. Howat (in the chair), H. G. Warren, A. Hall, A. J. Canning, I. B. Gow, G. R. Yeoman, T. R. Harland and C. A. Head.

This meeting strongly supported an amalgamation and the removal of the winter show hall to the Domain.

In August 1947 the Whakatane Borough Council, functioning as the Whakatane Domain Board, agieed to a 21 year lease to the amalgamated bodies, when amalgamated, and to the removal of the winter show hall to the Domain. League Bombshell But a bombshell fell when the then Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, refused permission to Jehift the hall. After some time it was that an objection had ben sent to him by some ratepayers, who desired league football established in the Domain. They had been refused the use of a desired area but were offered another suitable ground. The whole proposal was shelved until 1950 when a committee met, and amalgamation of the Associations was again recommended to i;he members of both bodies.

The first prop osal war that the amalgamated bodies purchase land in the borough. This was exhaustively gone into and it was found, that a suitable area could not be purchased. The second proposal was that the winter show hall be sold and if a subsidy could be obtained under the War Memorial scheme, .the money obtained would be controlled by the Domain Board and a new hall and A. and P. show facilities be Luilt. Because of the national financial position it now appears, to be unlikely that subsidy money of this nature will be available. The third proposal was that the winter show hall be sold and that further finance be arranged by a method to be discussed and that a new and larger hall be built on a Domain site. Maybe Impossible

Unless either the second or the third proposals are brought into operation early this year economic and other factors will make it impossible. The winter show hall must be in the centre of the borough and the A. and P. Association, if it desires to pay its way, must hold its show where people live. Past experience at Whakatane and elsewhere has shown that an A. and P. show cannot pay its way if held away from a reasonably large centre of population.

Port Scheme To Be Explained

Plans and details of the Whakatane deep sea port scheme are to be displayed at the Whakatane Winter Show so that those people who are not quite clear on what is envisaged will have an opportunity to clear their minds. At certain times the originator of the scheme. Mr C. H. Brebner, will explain it in detail. Many people have opposed the scheme because thev have not known what is planned and ihis exhibit should be of interest to them.