BUILDING MODERN SHOWGROUND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 6 November 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

BUILDING MODERN SHOWGROUND

The third era of the Show movement in the Gisborne district commenced 10 years ago with the holding of the fiftieth Show, for on that occasion the association used its own ground for the first time. However, it was not until the following year, 1930, that the entire Show was moved to the present site. In 1929. the main portion of the Show was held on the Makaraka racecourse, now a public domain, the pigs and a few other minor classes being housed on the new property.

completed, Mr. Tucker made a donation of £IOO to the association’s funds. That was not all. When the association aimed to raise £7500 for the most urgent work in a £IO.OOO programme. Mr. Tucker offered a 10s in the £ subsidy on funds collected for building improvements, the maximum subsidy being £2500. At first he stipulated that the offer would remain open for only 12 months, but when ii was apparent that it would be impossible to lilt Hie whole of the subsidy in that time, for the slump was beginning then. Mr. Tucker agreed to allow the offer to stand indefinitely until the whole of the subsidy had been drawn on.

The first definite move to establish its own ground was made in 1912. when the 'association purchased 30 acres on the western side of the Park racecourse. This area, which was added to later, forms the greater part of the area at present used purely for Show purposes, and the old western boundary of the area is stil! marked by a belt of trees running from the main traffic exit southward to the railway line, the belt now being broken on the site of the oval. At the time of the purchase of the original 30 acres in 1912 it was thought that there would be ample space for Show purposes, leaving plenty of room for expansion, but with the passing of the years, bringing with them revolutionary changes in transport methods and great development in the district it became apparent that further extension of the area would be necessary before a successful’ Show could be held on the association’s own property. That was the position which presented itself in 1928, when the association was giving serious consideration to the possibility of moving to its own ground for the golden jubilee. Some opposition was raised to the proposed large expenditure required for improvements, mainly on the score that the 30 acres would provide insufficient room not only for future expansion, but also for the existing needs of the association.

* State of Subsidy Fund At the beginning of the present financial year there was still £7Bl 9s 7d in the subsidy fund, which had been earning interest for the association throughout the years. Even that was not all. Mr. Tucker made the showground his hobby, and was continuously engaged making improvements, giving not only his own labour but also money in levelling work, the provision of seating accommodation and beautification. He asked no credit for what he had done, and when it was suggested that the ground should be named Tucker Park he discouraged the idea. And so, not only has Mr. Tucker given the association more in hard cash than the additional 3-1 acres is costing, but he materially helped the development of the ground in many ways, until now it is one of the most modern in the Dominion. In its Golden Jubilee Show number of 1929, the Herald stated; “With the large jump in the number of entries this year, it is reasonable to assume that the Jubilee Show has set a particularly high standard and one that will be the beginning of a new era in the progress of the association." So it has proved, for, despite the slump which was then developing, the association made marvellous progress. It was indeed the start of a new era, for the Show triumphed over the slump; in fact, its greatest progress was made during the slump period. Entries were affected at first. The record of 2531 in 1929 slipped to 194tj the following year, when the association moved entirely on to its own ground, but the public was so captivated by the new site that the Show quickly regained its popularity, and in 1933 and 1934 records were created, the total for the latter year of 3261 entries standing until this year as the association’s record.

Mr. 11. G. Tucker's Part It was then that the association's patron, Mr. H. G. Tucker, came into prominence. Mr. Tucker, as trustee of the Tucker estate, who owned the land adjoining, had been approached with a view to negotiating the purchase of a portion of the 34-acre block next door. Mr. Tucker refused to sell any but the whole 34 acres, which was considered an pxcessive area just as the existing 31) acres was too small. When Mr. Tucker was again approached he was still unmoved, but he made the terms for the purchase of the whole area so attractive that the association considered the opportunity too good to lose, and the deal was closed. The terms of Mr. Tucker’s offer were particularly generous. Only a short time before he had sold the property for £l2O an acre, but it had come back on his hands. lie offered it to the association for £2225, or about £65 an acre, including a four-roomed cottage. He required no cash deposil, while 20 years were allowed for payment. In addition, when the deal was

Period of Hard Work From the start of this third era there has been little else but hard work for members of the committee. They have had to plan carefully for the future while they built only sufficient for immediate purposes and worked within their financial resources. The first .step was to erect pavilions to house the stock entries and to place them in such positions that the ex-

REMARKABLE PROGRESS IN 10-YEAR PERIOD

Although interest in the Show movement in Gisborne has lag-ged at times, even to the abandonment of the effort during the late eighties, it has never been so keen as during- the past 10 years, when the association’s greatest strides have been made.

pansion of tire Show that was fullyexpected and since proved justified would not be affected. These were placed on the railway end of the ground, and were erected so that additions to them would be made easily. A produce pavilion was built near the entrance, and in the middle of the ground the oval was formed.

Since then, the sheep pavilions have been enlarged to double their size, and a rostrum placed between them, while a wool room also lias been provided in the same group of buildings. Beside the produce pavilion, diningrooms with kitchen and offices have been constructed, this group now being three times the size of the original pavilion.

In all, more than £IO.OOO has been spent by the association on building work on its new grounds, and this does not take into account the money devoted by Mr. Tucker and other helpers in improving the area, although it does include the subsidy from Mr. Tucker's fund on money raised for the construction of buildings.

Even now the buildings are not large enough. The association has a scheme in hand for the enlargement of the produce pavilion and diningrooms as part of the centennial effort.