THE TWO SHOWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9060, 8 April 1908, Page 4

THE TWO SHOWS.

As a sequel to the recent general meeting of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, a meeting of the general committee of the Wairarapa Pastoral and Agricultural Society was held at Carterton yesterday to consider a motion tabled by Mr Quinton Donald, respecting the amalgamation of the two societies. When we use the word "sequel," it is not to be inferred that the Masterton association, as an association, has had anything to do with the amalgamation movement. That originated in the Lower Valley, and the object is to have one good Show for the whole of the Wairarapa. It cannot, of course, be denied that the Masterton Association would be very pleased if Carterton could see its way to tlumv in its lot with the Sol way Show, which is intended to be national, rather than parochial, or even provincial; but the Masterton Committee has taken no official steps to influence the Carterton authorities. The meeting yesterday was satisfactory, inasmuch as no speaker doubted the wisdom of holding one Show for the whole district, that influential speakers, favoured the amalgamation, and that there was a consensus of opinion that the matter should be sent on to the annual meeting for final decision. There can be little doubt as to the ultimate result. The wisdom of the district will, we feel sure,, endorse the amalgamation proposal, because it must be beneficial to breeders and fai-mers in a way that it is hopeless to expect under conditions prevailing at present. The Masterton Association has decided to acquire the Solway grounds, and as the chief exhibitors in South Wairarapa have agreed to throw in their lot with the Wairarapa District Show movement, it would assuredly be to the interest of Carterton to join the project. If, however, it still desires to retain its local Show, no one can reasonably take exception to its decision, and it is understood that so far as dates are concerned, the Masterton Association will not interfere with the Carterton spring event. Those South Wairarapa breeders who have pledged themselves to exhibit at Solway may be relied upon to keep their promise, and there is little doubt that Hawke's Bay and other districts north of Masterton will, under the new conditions, send a greater number of exhibits to the Masterton Show. Under these circumstances the Solway exhibition must take a conspicuously commanding position in the Wairarapa and Bush Districts, and all other Shows must be of a more or less local character. These are points which the southern society would do well to reflect upon before its annual meeting takes place.