The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1885. JUDGING AT THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2103, 24 September 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1885. JUDGING AT THE EXHIBITION.

On the principle, we presume, that it is better late than never, the Exhibition Commissioners have at last taken steps to have the judging proceeded wiih, and we publish the first batch of awards in another column. No explanation has yet been afforded as to why the judges were not appointed so that they could have proceeded with the various classes as soon as the exhibits had been arranged, and wedoubt whether any valid excuse could be offered. Horticultural Societies keep their doors closed until the judges-have done their work, and Pastoral and Agricultural Societies charge a heavy admission fee for the privilege of entering the ground while the judges are at work. The Exhibition Commissioners, however, persisted in making an innovation, They allowed half the time during which the Exhibition is to be open. to expire, and then appointed the judges. The effect of this course is that all the visitors during the first half of the term had no opportunity of learning which were the beat exhibits, unless they were [sufficiently acquainted with them to judge for themselves. The main object of appointing judges to an Exhibition is to afford the public an opportunity of learning the opinion of experts, and this opportunity, we assert, has not been afforded to those who have visited the one in Wellington, If the object aimed at was to induce people to repeat their visit, then the Commissioners have btfen guilty of perpetrating a mean and contemptible dodge, and a gross injustice to those who came from a distance, and who could not come a second time, But visitors are not the only sufferers through the course adopted. A member of a well-known local firm who are exhibiting, puts the position very forcibly when be says that they went to considerable expense over theiv exhibit; but that they looked upon it as a good advertisement for themselves, How could tliey expect people who visited the Exhibition before the judging to remember the various points of difference even in any one class in which they were specially interested 1 It would simply be impossible. One of the objects in making the exhibit has therefore, been partially lost. It will thus be seen that visitors and exhibitors alike are sufferers through the one serious bungle, by which the value of the expensive undertaking has to a great extent been destroyed. To do the Commissioners justice, we must

say that there is now every appearance of the judging being got through without delay, so that visitors during the remainder of the time the Exhibition is open, williayean opportunity to Jeara which-are "the most meritbriovis;fixhibits.