SHOW DATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1938, Page 6

SHOW DATES

WAIRARAPA ASSOCIATION’S PROTEST

President of Royal Society Taken to Task

REQUEST FOR AN EXPLANATION

(“Times-Age” Special). “There have been suggestions of boycotting and resigning from the Royal Society, but that will not help us very much, or give us record entries for our Show,” observed Mr W. Howard Booth, in the course of a lengthy discussion at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society on the positioni that has arisen over the clashing of the Royal Show dates. “We should forget about the trouble, and go bald-headed for a record Show,” Mr Booth added. It was decided to adhere to the usual show dates, and to ask the president of the Royal Society why he had taken objection to the Wairarapa Society’s circular to A. and P. associations. At an early stage of the discussion, the secretary, Mr L. H. Smart, read the, following extract from a Press report of the Royal Show conference in Wellington:— “Mr Wild referred to a protest by the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Association against the Royal Show being held on the dates on which it had for years held its own Show in the Wairarapa. What I rather take exception to is the tone of the Wairarapa Association’s circular letter to A. and P. associations,” said Mr Wild, “It is calculated to put this council' in a wrong position, and ' is an improper action for an association affiliated to the society.” PUBLICLY ADMONISHED. “We have been publicly admonished for doing something we considered right,” observed Mr Smart. Voices: “Boycotted” and “Got the strap.” Mr Smart recalled. that twelve months ago the society protested to the Royal Society at the clashing of dates with the Waikato Society. After a long discussion at the conference they got nowhere and it was finally agreed to let matters rest. The Wairarapa delegates left the conference with a clear understanding that before the Royal Society fixed the Royal Show dates the whole question would be reopened and that the Wairarapa society would be represented at the meeting. They naturally expected to hear something from the Royal Society about the dates for this year but the first heard was when the Royal Show dates of October 27, 28 and 29 were published. “Naturally, we felt very sore about . the position,” added Mr Smart, “and as a result our circular was sent out fo try and rectify what we regarded as an injustice to us.” AN IMPRESSION UPSET. “We left the conference last year with the impression that we were going to be given an opportunity of discussing the position again before the Royal Show dates were fixed,” observed Mr C. J. Nix. “I brought that up at the recent conference,” he added, “and it was not denied that we were given that impression. There was nothing in the minutes contrary to the impression we held. Apparently the Royal Society considered that there would not be any difficulty in getting Hawke’s Bay to shift their dates back a week. Before fixing its dates the Royal Society should have given us an opportunity of protesting and having a say in the matter.” Mr W. Howard Booth said he remembered perfectly well leaving the conference last year with the impression that the question of show dates was to be reopened this year before the Royal Show dates were fixed. The matter had been thrashed out from all angles last year and he could see that they would receive a lot of support from the other delegates. Whether they were right or not they certainly did understand that they would have another opportunity of discussing show dates this year. There was no objection to Hamilton having the Royal Show, but to it being held ori dates that clashed with the Wairarapa Show. EXCEPTION TAKEN. ' • Mr G. Brown said the society’s circular had been very moderately worded. It could have been made much stronger but they did not want to cause offence. He thought they certainly should take exception to the remarks of the President of the Royal Society as reported in the Press. “By clouding over the issue and making a statement like that Mr Wild seems to be getting out of an admis-

sion of guilt," remarked Mr I. McLeod.

Mr Smart: “Mr Wild made that statement before our delegates had stated their case.” Mr McLeod: “I fail to see where the false position comes in.” Mr Brown moved that the president of the Royal Society be asked to explain how the Wairarapa Society’s circular had placed the Royal Society in a false position. Mr Brown made it clear that it was not a personal issue with Mr Wild, who apparently made the statement with the backing of his executive. ’

Mr Nix said that after the conference Mr Wild was full of apologies, but that did not help the Wairarapa very much. “Mr Wild,” he added, "made a point of telling me how sorry he was and gave me the impression that he felt very guilty.” Mr McLeod: “It is a peculiar way of covering up guilt by making a statement like that.” OPPORTUNITY DENIED. Mr Smart pointed out that the council of the Royal Society met last Thursday and reaffirmed the dates. The annual meeting was held subsequently, when Mr. Wild mentioned . 'the matter and told the delegates that no good could be done by discussing the matter. Mr. Wild had stated that the dates had been fixed and that if any motion were carried it would amount to a motion of no-confidence in the council of the society. > Mr Nix said he took exception to the fact that the Wairarapa delegates were not given an opportunity of testing the feeling of other delegates. “We were allowed to speak on the matter, but were not given a chance of moving a motion to test the meeting.” A voice: “Rather high-handed.” Mr Nix: “They were working backwards. The annual meeting should have been held before the council met.” BOYCOTT OF WAIRARAPA. Mr Arch Clark: “It is purely and simply a boycott of the Wairarapa by the Royal Society.” Mr Booth said the whole question of fixing Show dates was a very difficult matter. The Royal Society was not a governing body and could not tell any society that it must hold its show on any specific date. After referring to the difficulty experienced with delegates from Auckland and other northern associations, Mr Booth said they should have put up a- -strong fight twelve months ago. They had not realised, however, that the Royal Show dates would be fixed so soon. “It has been suggested,” added Mr. Booth, “that we should boyouft and resign from the Royal Society, but that will not help us much or give us record entries for our Show. Ido not believe in cutting off one’s hose to spite one’s face. It would be far beter to forget all about the trouble and go baldheaded for a record Show. (Applause.) Let the matter drop and go to Hawke’s Bay and canvass energetically for entries. Some of our classes will naturally be weak, but I still think we can hold a successful Show.” FEELING JN HAWKE'S BAY. Mr. Smart said the Hawke’s Bay Association was as ■sore as Wairarapa over the clashing of dates as some people were blaming, them for not shifting their dates. The Royal Society had only gone to Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa and had not asked the Waikato Association to alter its dates. Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa had held their shows on the same Bates for over half a century, while Waikato had only had the same dates for two years. He thought Wairarapa should stick to its usual dates. Mr. G. E. Allen said he blamed the Waikato Association for the trouble that had arisen. Wairarapa had not received the support from the Royal Society or the breed societies that it should have. He did not think the Royal Show benefitted the breeders very much. He had been showing since 1908 and had taken sheep to Auckland, Christchurch and Invercargill to Royal Shows, but he would not do so again if they paid his fare and freight because the travelling knocked his stock about too much. The system of appointing judges for the Royal Show was very much at fault. It was decided to hold the Show on the usual dates, October 26 and 27, and to appeal to the Hawke’s Bay Association for its utmost support.