AUTUMN SHOW

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 310, 16 December 1936, Page 4

AUTUMN SHOW

STRATFORD A. & P. AFTER NEW PLYMOUTH Decision For New Venture Next March. A Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Autumn Show will be held next year, probably on March 12and 13, following the New Plymouth Show.

This decision, was reached unanimously by a full meeting of the executive last night presided over by‘ Mr A. H. R. Amess. Members were enthusiastic about the proposal and the only objection that was raised' was on the grounds that it might be difficult to organise the show in the time. Mr Amess, however, said .that the efficiency of the secretary, Mr W. Ross, would make this possible so' -

long as the members entered wholeheartedly into the scheme and gave him all the assistance possible. The suggestion for the holding of an autumn show at Stratford has been before the association and was strongly advocated by Mr Amess at the last annual meeting of the society, when the question was referred to the executive. In recent years entries at the spring show, particularly in the cattle classes, have been affected by the shortage of farm labour. As the spring is the busy season for the cattle exhibitors many have been thus prevented from showing at Stratford. The association has been promised by many cattle-men that they would exhibit more strongly' if a show were held in the autumn. The decision made by the association last night, however, does not mean that the Stratford show has been changed from an autumn to a spring one. The show to be held next March is more in the nature of an experiment, and when it, is over the association will consider .the whole question. On the only previous occasion when an autumn show was held at Stratford it was not, a success. This, however, provides no criterion for it was held in 1919, and co-incided with the post-war influenza epidemic. : ,

At present there is only one agricultural and pastoral association in New Zealand which holds two shows. This is the Hawkes Bay Asociation, which holds an autumn and a spring show every year at Napier and is the largest association of its kind in the Dominion.

Having decided to hold an autumn show, the Stratford association is making every effort to ensure that it will be an outstanding success. Divisional committees were appointed at last night’s meeting to deal with the preparation of an. entirely' new and attractive schedule. It is intended to make a special feature of horse and ring events, and in this section a number of innovations will be brought forward. The holding of a dog show was also mentioned and will be further considered. The home industries section will be replaced by a caged-bird show which will be Tun .with the assistance of the Stratford Caged Bird Club.

Special Committees. Special committees appointed were: Ring and horse events; Messrs M. G. Trotter, C. S. Williams, J. Shotter and E. Wells. Cattle: Messrs S. (iadsby, C. H. Clemow, W. Johnston, A. R. Claridge, F. Kirkwood. Pigs: Messrs J. Parrish, A. O’Sullivan, D. Hyndman and J. Burgham. Sheep: Messrs A. Bower, L. Marfell, W. Pettigrew.