ROYAL SHOW.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 19 November 1924, Page 8

ROYAL SHOW.

REPLY TO NEWSPAPER COMPLAINTS.

CHRISTCHURCH ATTACKED.

(PRSSS ASSOCIATION TELEGEAIt.)

PALMERSTON N., November 18

In answering Press complaints relative to the- conduct of the recent Royal Show, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., president of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, at a meeting of that body todav said complaints had been made as* to the reception of results, which had been very slow in arriving at the Press room. "When crjticism was advanced, however, it was well that the set of facts which the Association had experienced should be made known. Much difficulty was experienced in securing stock in time for judging, on account of slips on the Hawke's Bay line while the Australian judges had to be- brought hastily from Wellington in order to arrive in time to carry out their duties. The Railway Department had done everything possible to facilitate the arrival and despatch of stock, but the general arrangements had been upset and much delav in consequence had been occasioned. The speaker said life thought the criticism was rather severe on the stewards who had done remarkably well in the execution of their duties in the circumMr J. M. Johnston, treasurer of the Association, declared that the statement that the administration was poor was absolutely without foundation. There was no Show in New Zealand which had a better lot of stewards to carry out work faithfully and intelligently than the stewards of the Manawatu Association, especially at the Roval Show. "We are thankful that we have a reputation, and we maintain our reputation ar.ti we can afford to take little notice of the jealousies, as this criticism can be termed —it is nothing else—from other interested quarters. Members of the committee of this* Association move round a great deal more amongst shows than probablv anv other Association. I visited the Canterbury Show myself two years a<ro with a hope of being able to learn something. All I could see was that thev were> very much behind the times. At any future shows where the Royal Society is concerned, it will be necessary for the bodv where the Show is beinrr*held to have supreme control. The schedules must all be Roval Show schedules, and not divided. Dual control is most unsatisfactory, and the Roval Societv will have to he remodelled to a very large extent." ■ Severn! members urged Mr Johnston to withdraw his statement about the Christehurch Show, but he positively and absolutely refused, declaring that as a member of the Association' he had a perfect right to come to the meeting and express his views. _ A resolution that the senior stewards confer and report on improvements for the future, was carried.