MR R. COBBE IS AN EXPERIENCED SHOW SECRETARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 59, 21 June 1950, Page 4

MR R. COBBE IS AN EXPERIENCED SHOW SECRETARY

It is not a co-incidence that much of the growing success and popularity of the Whakatane Winter Show has come about since Mr Richard Cobbe was appointed secretary. In any show most of the work is done by the secretary and hie success of such functions quite often mirrors the work of that officer. Mr Cobbe may not have been Widely known in the district before he joined the Winter Show Association but, it is a safe bet that most people now associate his name with the show. When he came into office Mr Cobbe started on a concentrated advertising plan. Through the Beacon he planned to reach people living in the town and farmers on the Rangitaiki Plains and further afield tc Galatea and ether districts. The success of his efforts may be seen in the increased membership and the increasing number of entries, which were received both last year and this. His advertisements, although they may not have won a prize in any school of advertising, certainly reached the people and, what is more important, were r«©d by the people. For the position of secretary Mr Cobbe is well qualified. For some years he was a member of the Wai-

kato Winter Show committee and of other show committees at Wanganui, Feilding and Palmerston North. In addition he has been a successful practical farmer and the director of a large dairy factory. His executive experience extends even to local bodies, as he was once a member of the Hamilton City Council.

His entry into the advertising world has been both full and fruitful. Mr Cobbe knows the value of advertising, good advertising. Not for nothing was he advertising manager for many large business firms.

But, while Mr Cobe has been luckier than most show secretaries in that past occupations have assisted him in his work, he has also been lucky in having an enthusiastic and hard working committee to work with. As he is the first to admit, each member has laboured hard to make the show a success and to bring it to the position "it now holds as the second biggest country winter show in New Zealand.

The fruits of the committee’s and Mr Cobbe’s work may be seen between today and Saturday at Whakatane. Record entries in all classes with fine exhibits of an outstanding variety. Even at this early stage it is not too soon to say that the shew will be a success.

10,000 People Are Expected To Visit Show In Four Days The show spirit has obviously caught on at Whakatane. Late yesterday and early this morning local and exhibitors were putting the final touches to exhibits before the official opening, inside, the hall and marquees have been transformed to a gay festive atmosphere. Recent renovations to '.he hall have made more space available and it is now possible to view the stage from any side. The poultry will be housed in a marquee at the rear of the hall while a larger marquee by 'flic county workyards is to hold the latest in motor vehicles. Cars, trucks and farm machinery. By taking in part of Quay Street as far as the bridge over the W air ere Stream, which will be the main ennance, more space has been made available for the side shows aivt there will not now be the congestion around the main doors to the hall.

Somewhere near 10,000 > people are expected to visit the show in the next four days. Most schools of the district will be sending special parties tomorrow.