MASTERTON SHOW DATES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10450, 16 October 1911, Page 5

MASTERTON SHOW DATES

A SUGGESTED ALTERATION.

THE PROPOSAL NEGATIVE'

Mr W. Perry moved, at the meeting of till© Committee of the Master- : v ton A. and P. Association on Saturday last, that the days of the show n . be altered from Tuesday and Wted:l nesday to Wednesday and Thursday. e He thought the change in dates 0 would benefit the Association very e considerably. At the present time, West Coast breeders had to leave liome on the Saturday." If the open- ' ino; day was later in the week, visi--3 tors would be able to leave their 5 homes early in tlhe week. The only 1 drawback would be the putting back cf the ram fair till Saturday. 'He ttoough,t the disadvantage in this connection would be less than it was at present in regard to the show. He did not think that breeders would suffer much injury. Mr D. Caselberg seconded the motion. He pointed out that the change would mean a- larger attendance from the Wairtarapa towns, where Thursday was the half-lioliday. Mr 0. C. Cboper was sorry ho could not move an amendment, because it would be a direct negative. He asked member® to seriously consider the position. He agreed that a few more people might come to the show from tlie Lower Valley if the "People's Day" were held on a Thursday. At the same time, he : /' pointed out that the holiday in Pah--i iatua \Vais observed on Wednesday, ! and a very considerable number of , people attended from .that district. The great difficulty, liowever, was in regard to the ram fhir." If tlie sec- , tfnd day pf the fair was put back to; Saturday, tlie interest of breeders would be seriously affected. People could not be expected to travel their stock on Sunday, and the "i trains would not permit of buyers getting to tlieii' homes. Tlie proposed change would inflict a serious injury upon, .the ram fair. Mr J. B. JVloodie agreed withi Mr J Cooper. The Jiow might benefit a little by the proposed cliange, but the ram fair .would suffer a very great deal. He pointed out that th© breeders' of flock rams in the FortyMile Bush would suffer very great inconvenience. Under existing circumstances, tiie Saturday morning, was a very busy one for the auctioneers. The change would mean that th» v sitiaff would have to work on .: Sundays. Mr Moodie pointed, out, that no other Association in the Dominion held its ram fair on the Friday and S&turd'ay. The auctioneers haxi already a very great responsibility If tibe sitfook was -ito be .placed ir. holding paddock® over Sunday, the responsibility of jthe auctioneers would be very considerably increased Tlie President (Mr H. Morrison) spoke strongly in favour of the \reso-. lution. It would have a very material effect upon jthe takings at tihe s'how. H<- was in toucih. with the Lower Valley, and was (satisfied that Thursday w,as the better day. At the present time, (breeders had to travel their istock on Sundays. There was plenty of holding accommodation on the ground®. Mr W. D. Watson said he wiould WppoSe any alteration in the show (dates. Mir D. McGregor said, the matter seamed to resolve itself into one of town versus the farmers. He wasi personally opposed to, hia eheep on a Saturday. He did not think they should encourage t<>° •inuch' w<ork -Wink done' on Sunday. "(Hear, hear). ,He would Uk^ :; to,meet • the Lower Valley people as far as -. possible, > but could not agree wifcb tie proposed cihaiige in date. Mr J. C. McKillop could, not see how they oould change their dates, unless tihey could make .better arrangements for their ram fair. 'Mir W. Perry, in reply, pointed out that the- holding of the show on Tuesday, as at present, meant that a very considerable number of people hiad to work with their stock on Sunday. He pointed out that the Carterton people had threatened not to declare a half-holiday on the Thursday. Mir W. J. Welch said the Association had been so. successful in thepast that he would..not favour a. rihiange at this stage. The? motion, on being put, was "lost on the voiceis.