PROPOSED CHANGE OF SHOWGROUND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 903, 25 February 1908, Page 5

PROPOSED CHANGE OF SHOWGROUND.

SOME LOCAL AND OUTSIDE OPINIONS.

VARIOUS VIEWS,

The proposal to shift the Masterton Showgrounds to Solway has formed a general topic of discussion among farmers of the district. On Friday a contingent uf Carterton Show supporters were taken to Solway bush to have the surroundings shown them. The remarks of an influential South Wairarapa farmer made to the pressman were of an emphatic character, and strongly in favour of a Solway Show for Wairarapa. Tin's gentleman resides at Martinborough, and he declared that if a line were drawn across the valley at Greytown probably some eighty-four members of the Carterton Association would be found residing south of it. Out of these he considered thst eighty would reacfily sign a petition in favour of amalgamation with a Show at Solway. "We are in favour of the proposal to a man almost," he said. "What is a fsw miles further distance to us,, when the agricultural interests of the Valley are at stake? As matters are now at Masterton we have to get cut stock moving a week in advance of the Show, and we have to go to an infinity of trouble and expense in arranging for grazing paddocks and other matters. As far as Carterton is concerned it is common knowledge that Masterton is the town supplies a large proportion of visitoi's with accommodation at Carterton Show time."

Among local supporters of the removal to Solway some strong arguments were advanced in favour of the scheme beirnr adopted immediately if at all. The condition of our sheep and cattle p3iis is a matter which the Association must investigate shortly," said one prominent member. "The cattle pens, are, in my opinion, menaces to the public safety. Only on Thursday my notice was attracted by the state of several of the more nervous breeds of cattle which were fuming to get out of their enclosures. Had they but known that a quarter of their strength would have sufficed to break the flimsy totara pens it might have been a serious matter. I contend that if the Showgrounds are transferred—and even if they are not —the cattle pens at least should be re-built in birch, and instead of nails wire should be used in construction." Newer and stronger sheep pens, a new ram fair ring, impending extensive alterations to one of the stands —-these were arguments also adduced by supporters of the removal. "It is) a question of whether our agricultural Shows in the Wairarapa are to become parochial or not," declared another member of the Masterton Association.- "Our scope would bo practially unlimited at Solway, and the extra inducement to outsie'e exhibitors, especially if the Societies were amalgamated, would be a factor which would increase the importance of cur Show to an extent that people' little dream of. Our officials whose business it is to visit surrounding Shows tell us continually that Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and other breeders have the same old answer year by year to requests for support —have one Show and we will support you heartily, ar.d not until? If tl.e townspeople could only realise what this means they would unani nously support the proposal to remove to So'way.

"The declaring of a whole holiday for 'People's Day' would give local people ample time to walk out if they felt so inclined, but the question of cheap transit would be a matter the Association would soon take in hand if the removal were agreed upon." The views of Mr W. Cunningham, of Rangiora, who judged the fat cattle at the Show, and who takes a considerable interest in North Island shows, are interesting. Mr Cunningham visited Solway, and expressed the opinion that the locality could be made the finest and most attractive Showgrounds in New Zealand.

"It is somewhat of a coincidence," he said, "that the Timaru Association had an experience precisely similar up to the present as the Masterton Association is undergoing. The Timam Showgrounds were formerly situated very conveniently to town, but a much move suitable ground was available a little farther distance away. The Association decided that it was to its interests to remove to the latter and prssent site. Keen opposition was experienced from the townspeople, and the same arguments were used against the proposal as no doubt the Masterton Association will meet from its townsfolk—that the town business would suffer and the gate receipts would be considerably lessened. The Association, however, subordinated all other arguments to those which affected their exhibitors, and the ultimate result was that not only did the entries considerably increase, but the gate receipts, instead of decreasing, showed the reverse, and the town has not suffered in any way from the change." Mr Cunningham said that if the Masterton Association decided upon the change he was confident that a cheap and quick transit service to the grounds would be an almost immediate sequence.

OPINIONS OF TRADESPEOPLE

The head of one of the largest houses in the retail line in Queen Street had no hesitation in saying that he was opposed to the removal of the Show, being a member of the Association, and believing that the Association would not be consulting it* own financial interests by making the change. "But as far as our firm's business is concerned it is hardly possible for the alteration to affect us to any appreciable extent. Our business is not done on People's Day, but the clay before (and perhaps to some extent after), with the class of people who are likely to come to *.he town no matter where the Show is held."

Another firm stated that prior to Show day proper (People's Day) their business was just about normal ; that Show day itself was (in the morning, of course) a little busier only than an ordinary morning, but that the day following was a very busy time for them. "Under these circumstances," said a representative of the firm, "we have nothing to say either for or against the pro-

posal. We f»nd that the visitors to Masterton who only put in Show day in the town generally make straight for the Show as soon as they arrive, and as we close at 12 o'clock, the time they leave the grounds does not affect us."

Yec another firm found that the j Show made little difference to its business at all. Whatever may be the experience of other business people," said the manager, "I have found that our returns are not increased to any very great extent either before, during or after the Show." This gentleman said that it would be very difficult indeed to say what effect a removal of the fair to Solway would have, but he was inclined to the opinion that few of the tradespeople would be much affected financially. His remarks were characteristic of quite if number of tradespeople, who, while dubious about the advisability of the removal would not venture to offer a definite prediction. There seemed to be an undercurrent of opposition on the part of some, based upon grounds which could not be correctly said to affect the financial welfare of retailers. Representatives of two sections of shopkeepers, interviewed— fruiterers and restaurateurs—were unanimousiy opposed to the removal to Solway. One expressed very emphatic views as to the effect upon the business done in his shop and refreshment room?. "We might as well close down and go to the Show ourselves if it goes to Solway," he said, "as our business will not be equal to, and may perhaps be even less than, an ordinary day." Fruiterers were equally positive that their interests would suffer, and as one said, "people visiting the Show from the south of Masterton will never see the town, and those from northwards will pass by it. It is not likely they will come to Masterton when it means expense."