CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2022, 22 June 1885, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Thinking it probable that, tho promoters of a pastoral and agricultural show in Masterton, have scarcely realized the effect which the inauguration of a second Sopiety in the Valley must have, I have thought I might possibly do good by giving the public,-•'through your columns, my views on the subject. Situated as I am here, I venture to think that 1 can arrive at as unbiased an opinion as any other person interested, as 1 have no immediate interest in any of the townships, and, as an exhibitor, it makes very little difference to me where a show is held. It seems to me an undoubted fact that in the Wairarapa we have neither the funds nor material to support two Societies. Any attempt in this direction means the cutting of the throat of certainly one, and probably both. There is, of course, the alternative of holding our shows every other year at each end of the Valley, but our past experience points out to us very plainly that Lower Valley exhibitors would not care to take their stock to Masterton, and Upper Valley exhibitors vice versa. Not only that, but the expense of acquiring and keeping up two sets. o£ yards, etc., and the extra , clerical work, which would inevitably be entailed by > these peripatetic sh'qws, would of itself prevent their taeing a success. I hope those who are taking a lead in this new movement will not imagine that I believe them actuated by motives of hostility to tho existing Society in their present endeavor, lam pre they sincerely desire to advance their district; but let me apre then) that their desire will not attain that end, but it will drive further off than oyer that which I have hoped for for some years past, viz,, an exhibition of stock and produce worthy of the district in which we live ; and it is witli a view to accomplish this that I am troubling your readers. Now, in my estimation, the only way to get this is to establish on a sure, firm basis one Society, and one only; any division in the camp will only tend to kill all hope of carrying out this laudable object. lam quite sure it would be tho wish of the Committee of the existing Society to meet tho views of the Masterton Farmers' Club if they could possibly see their way clear to carry them out successfully; but knowing that they, agree with me on this subject, 1 don't very well see how they could do anything else but decline the overture made them,. The present Society has wiped off a considerable portion of its liabilities, and jW Kf)od antl grounds, and I don't think J should be making tqq 'sanguine p assertion if I state that, jf'tjie Soqiety only got the support of those interested in pastoral'and agricultural matters in the district, it. would in the immediate future, be, with the exception of tho Canterbury Society, socond to : none in Now Zealand.

I am, &c., Henry R. Bunny. Ahiaruhe, June 19th, 1885.