CLASHING OF DATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1938, Page 9

CLASHING OF DATES

ROYAL SHOW & WAIRARAPA FIXTURE — i STRONG PROTEST BY P. AND A. SOCIETY. SUPPORT OF KINDRED BODIES SOUGHT. A strong protest is being made by the Wairarapa P. and A. Society against the Royal Show being held this year in the same week as the Wairarapa P. and A. Show and a circular is being sent to every A. and P. Association in New Zealand asking it to support the protest. The dates selected for the Royal Show, which has been allotted this year to the Waikato A. and iation, are October 27, 28 and 29. The Wairarapa P. and A. Show is set down for October 26 and 27. .

It is acknowledged freely by the Wairarapa P. and A. Association that it is right that a prosperous and important district like the Waikato should be allotted the Royal Show. Objection is taken solely to the clashing of dates. It is pointed out that the Wairarapa Show is acknowledged to be one of the most important district fixtures of its kind in New Zealand. The P. and A. Association has held shows in this district since 1870 and always in or about the fourth week in October. For well over 30 years, the Association’s dates have been definitely in that week, the circuit being Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu, etc. The Waikato A. and-P. Association, which for many years had dates in November, recently fixed its dates in the fourth week in October, notwithstanding protests by the Wairarapa Association and the Eastern Council of the Royal Society. The Royal Society held that it had no control over show dates.

It is contended that if the Royal Society has no control over association show dates, it has control over the allotment of the Royal Show and that the latter should not be held at a time when it will clash with any oldestablished district show. The P. and A. Association points out that breeders in the Wairarapa district have always been strong supporters of the Royal Show and that if the protest now made does not succeed, district breeders will have to choose between showing at Hamilton or at Carterton. Should they support the Royal Show to the same extent as in the past, the Wairarapa Show will be affected very seriously. It is noted also that last year Wairarapa breeders were represented strongly in many of the leading setions at the Royal Show.