THE ROYAL SHOW.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 17 August 1937, Page 6

THE ROYAL SHOW.

CENTRALISATION OF VENUE,

PALMERSTON NORTH FAVOURED,

The proposal that the Royal Show should be permanently located at Wellington has been supported bv some breeders, the argument used being that the cost of transport and finance generally are becoming too great a burden in present conditions (says the agricultural writer of the 'Christchurch Press). It has to be conceded that the cost of transport across Cook Strait is a'difficulty, but it is not plain if the trip were completely free, that there would bo a great increase in exhibits as between the two Islands. To fix the site permanently in Wellington would mean that all South Island exhibits would have to pay the cost of the Straits trip, and the Show would tend to become a North Island cattle and Romney sheep and pig show. At present, the exhibition of all the breeds of sheep in use in the Dominion can be assured when the show is held in the South Islaud, and the prize lists of past Royals Shoiv that southern dairy breeders' can make ns good a quality display as the North if not such a big one. In any case once the journey across the Straits to Wellington is undertaken there is not a great increase in the cost of carrying the exhibits on to Palmerston North. There are enough dairy and beef cattle, enough pigs, assisted by one or two breeds of sheep in the North Island, to make a good Royal show’ there, and on the other hand all the stock required for the same tiling is available in the South Island, except, perhaps, of' beef cattle. Eaclj Island can make a specialised display of most classes of .stock without having to depend on the other.

But there is an aspect just ns important as the one mentioned if til® Royal shows are to continue to be successful. That is a show “complex” in the centre in which the show’ is held. The city of Wellington is singularly destitute of this complex. There is not even an association there, and probably 90 per cent, of the people who would be directly interested in a IVel-lington-hekl Show would have to come from elsewhere. Auckland, which has an association, and which is not so destitute of the show’ atmosphere, has demonstrated the difficulty of successfully holding a Royal Show’. If tho event is held permanently in one centre on account' of the reasons advanced there is only one possible locality in the North Island, and that is Palmerston North, w-here the Show spirit is well developed. Without stressing this side as far as Christchurch is concerned, as the show- atmosphere is equally well developed throughout the south, Christchurch is the natural centre in this Island. To fix the site alternately at these two centres, with occasional shows at Invercargill and Hastings, would be found much more convenient nnd much more profitable than localising the , event at Wellington.