SHOW AMALGAMATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9079, 1 May 1908, Page 5

SHOW AMALGAMATION.

DISCUSSED BY WAIRARAPA P. AND A. SOCIETY. STRENUOUS OPPOSITION.

AN INTERESTING DEBATE

There was a record attendance at the annual general meeting of members of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society, held in the Produce Hall of the Carterton Showgrounds yesterday. The outgoing President, Mr H. McPhee, occupied the chair. The whole of the afternoon practically was devoted to a discussion on the following motion moved by Mr Quinton Duiiald: — "That a vote by ballot of the members attending the annual meeting be taken whether it is advisable to join with Masterton in holding one show at Solway, and that the name of the amalgamated society be called the Wairarapa A. and P. Association." Mr Donald, in speaking to the motion, said he hoped it would be discussed in a good spirit. He felt the time was ripe when the district should have one good show, and having this, the farmers and breeders of the district would be found loyally supporting it. Mr Donald covered some of the ground traversed when the matter was previously debated by the General Committee. He made a strong point of the provincial value of a combined fshow. He regretted that feeling had been introduced into the question, and that it had resolved itself into a struggle between town versus country. He hoped the many new members elected that day would take a broad view of the question and not let town wants enter too largely into their minds, as the country members were really worthy of the greater consideration. He enlarged upon the ideal site Solway was for a combined show. Carterton might once have baen the centre as regards population, but .with the increased settlement in the northern districts it was not so now. Solway provided an ideal site, with better accommodation by far than was available at Masterton Mr W. Fisher said hs would second the motion if Mr Donald would add to it thai the Carterton Showground be handed over to Carterton for educational purposes. Mr Donald said he was quite prepared to do so if it were legal. Some hesitancy on the part of Mr Fisher to accept this proviso resulted in Mr McMaster seconding the motion unconditionally. Mr W. C. Buchanan said he thought everyone was agreed that a united show was desirable, but it was a question of what was to be i done with the assets of the Associa- i tion they were to unite with. In pointing out what he termed curiosities of the situation, he quoted the annual reports and balance sheets for the last two or three years to show that the financial situation of the Wairarapa Society had improved. He dwelt also upon the valuable work done educationally by the show, and said that while Mr Donald no j doubt believed that the two societies would do better as one "happy family," he advised them to continue on the present basis of one happy family. ( That was the advice he had to offer. He hoped no ill-feeling would be engendered betwen members over the issue. Mr J. D. Cruickshank said they were all aware that the proposal for amalgamation proceeded from their own members. The Maatprfrn Association, however, would the union. He said such wo uld have the whole-hearted support of breeders both in and out of the Wairarapa. Mr Cruickshank read the following telegram he received yesterday from Mr G. Wheeler, the . well-known West Coast breeder: —"Wish every Buccess to attend amalgamation scheme, thus forming one strong united Wairarapa Association with autumn show unequalled in dominion, and supported by all breeders. We are all much interested in decision." Mr Cruickshank said this conveyed the general feeling of all parties. The Masterton Association did not want to "nobble" the Carterton Showground, but merely desired amalgamation and one show. Mr H. R. Bunny, who spoke against the motion, again referred to the report of the Solway sub-committee, and again declared that it condemned the proposal of Solway show. He charged the Masterton Association with wanting to secure tha Carterton assets to assist the show. He said the proposed "matrimonial scheme" was being preceded by a one-sided courtship. The "Masterton maiden was coy," but was also, a deceiver. His advice, like "Punch's" to those about tomarry, was "Don't!" Mr W. E. Bidwill, after congrat- - ulating Mr Donald for his courage in facing such an important question, said it was admitted by even the opponents of the motion that one Wairarapa show was desirable. He affirmed that whichever way the present issue was decided the ultimate result would be the same, and the show would gradually gravitate to a centre, and that centre waa Masterton. He enlarged upon the fact that implement manufacturers had set their face against exhibiting on the score of the multiplicity of shows , and it was by such proposals as was now before the meeting that these objections could be overcome. As a member of twenty years' standing he spoke advisedly, and in saying that the alleged progress of the Society had been spoon-fed, Mr ! Buchanan was chief amongst those to sustain it. He did not _ blame Carterton townspeople one bit, but thought they should consider their country members in the matter. He told the meeting plainly that Mr Donald voiced practically the unanimous opinion of the South Wairarapa, and advised them to weigh the facte well before they gave .their decision. He asked why did not the extraordinary number of new members recently elected come to the rescue of the society long ago and help to knock Masterton show "kite high?" He averred that year by i year Carterton show had gone down when the show itself was looked at, and not the financial result. Mr John Strang said there was one strong point in favour of amalgamation which had occurred to him, and that was the prospect of the Royal Horticultural Show being held

at Sol way if it were supported by a united society. Mr Isaac Sykes, a strong supporter of the motion, gave a fervid speech, quoting extensive figures to show why Masterton should be chosen the locality :for a united show. He said that £SOO only out of £2,093 collected during the last three years by the society as special donations had been subscribed by Carterton itself, the balance coming from Wellington, Masterton, and Lower Valley. In 1905 the show entries were 1,277, which had dwindled to 1,059 last show, and of these 440 had n .orm from Masterton alone. Assertions made at the meeting that the Carterton show was the premier show of the Wairarapa were answered by the following comparison: Masterton's assets £3,919, Carterton's £2,812. Then, he said, 851 people came by train to the last Mastetron show, and of those only 304 came from south of Carterton, while he estimated that 1,500 Masterton people came to the Carterton show. He asked where would Carterton's gate receipts be if this patronage were withdrawn? They would be reduced by £75. Mr Sykes wished to defend three members of the I Society who were he said, unjustly attacked at the previous general comimttee meeting, but the chairman would not allow him to bring up matters connected with that meeting.

Mr J. McGregor argued for a dispassionate review of the position of the Society, and asked members to be guided in their action by that. He dealt largely with comparisons, and said in support of Masterton's claim to the title of the show centre that Masterton's prize fund last show was £794 against Carterton's £534; Masterton's subscriptions were £623 against Carterton's £509; Masterton's entrance fees £414 15s against Carterton's £305; gates £213, against £l3s'; stock at Masterton show (and he asked them to mark this) 2,262 against Carterton's 867. He made a strong point also of the fact that the supporters of the motion were pledged to one show, and urged members not to blink at that fact but to face the position.

Mr W.Howard Booth spoke against the motion, confining himself to criticisms of the various speeches in support of it. After some further unimportant discussion the ballot was taken and the motion was negatived by 234 to 80. Loud applause followed the announcement of the result, cheers being given for the society, followed by such remarks as "No surrender!" and "Carterton for ever!" Mr Howard Booth also called for cheers for "the plucky syndicate that went to Solway," these also Deing lustily given.