THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1908. IS IT DESIRABLE?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9050, 8 February 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1908. IS IT DESIRABLE?

It is understood that at a meeting of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to be helrl to-day, the question of disposing of thepresent showground, and acquiring portion of the Solway estate as a new showground, is to be brought forward. This had induced a correspondent, "Whareama," *;o place before the Association and the public, through our columns, some reasons why it would be undesirable to make the change. Our correspondent is emphatic without being in any way dog T " matic. He puts his arguments forward clearly and temperately, and asks those who are interested to think the matter out from both sides. The weightiest of his contentions appear to us to be the distance of the Solway estate from the town, and the consequent limitation, of attendance of borough residents; the loss of gate money through this cause, and the deflection of traffic and trade from the town. We do not propose at the present, moment to express .any opinion upon the wisdom or otherwise of the project, as we are yet in ignorance of the arguments to be put forward in its favour; but in

the face of the contentions of " Whareama," which appear to have' logic in their favour, we would urge the Association authorities to carefully consider the matter in all its bearings. There is much to be said on behalf of the owners of stock, who would he benefited by having a showground contiguous to a railway platform; but there are obviously many other things to be considered besides stock. There are other exhibi- ' tors who might be greatly inconvenience'! ; the residents of Masterton would doubtless be a good deal handicapped by the distance they would have to travel to the showground; and visitors from north and south would probably find it more convenient to go direct by train to and from Kurupuni, thus leaving Masterton out of their reckoning. However, there may be reasons for the proposed change of site which outweigh all these considerations and justify its adoption. When they are put forward the community will be in a better position to form a just judgment upon the whole question.