Newspaper Article 2017 – Event has faced such challenges in the past

Event has faced such challenges in the past

Michael Fowler
Historic Hawke’s Bay

The recent decision of the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society to change its annual Spring Show to a two-dayer from the present three-day event, has, I think, some interesting parallels in history.

The first A & P Show in Hawke’s Bay took place on October 14, 1863 at Havelock North and was modelled along the lines of the “old country” with competitions and displays relating mostly to agriculture.

It was held over one day, and banks and stores gave notice that they were declaring a holiday so people could attend the show.

Shows would change from this earliest form to appeal to both town and country. At the 1863 show a ploughing match was held, and in later years other activities like these, such as woodchopping, showjumping, machinery displays and sideshows were added.

In 1876 the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society extended the show to two days.

It appears the first day of that show was not open to the public, and to allow town people to attend the second day a bank holiday was declared (as authorised by law).

During the mid-19th century the normal work week consisted of six days with work forbidden on Sunday.

From the 1870s many towns in New Zealand adopted a half day holiday during the working week, of which Hawke’s Bay’s was a Wednesday afternoon.

In 1919 shops closed at 11am on Wednesday show day thanks to the Hastings Holiday Association, which then determined the holidays. In 1936, the 40-hour week was introduced, with shop assistants limited to 44 hours a week with a guaranteed half day holiday.

By 1945 shop assistants’ hours were limited to 40 hours, and Saturday trading ceased. A late night could be held Thursday or Friday, with the weekend preserved for family time.

The show became a three-day event in 1958.

As the show was held in October, People’s Day was held on Friday, Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day which commemorated in 1858 the separation of Hawke’s Bay from the Wellington Province (The actual day of separation was November 1, but is commemorated on Friday before Labour Weekend).

During the earlier part of the 19th century, people did not travel much and the show was therefore eagerly awaited (Hawke’s Bay newspapers, for instance, for many years recorded those leaving Hawke’s Bay, and for what purpose).

In 1980 a law change meant that Saturday shopping would now become a reality. While this did not arguably have a huge impact on the show, it did mean lifestyles would begin to change for many in terms of dividing work and leisure times.

The show was held from Thursday to Saturday in 2000, and 75,000 attended. However, by 2004 it had reverted back to Wednesday to Friday. At this point it was acknowledged changes began to occur with country exhibitors/competitors falling off, and lifestyle and town people dominating.

The Hawke’s Bay A & P Society has throughout its 150 year-plus history had to remain relevant to both changes in farming and society. It has faced these types of challenges before, and I personally wish it all the success in keeping the Hawke’s Bay Show alive.

Photo caption – EARLY DAYS: This Hawke’s Bay A & P Show was held at the Hastings Racecourse around the turn of last century. As the working week was six days then, and Sunday kept for the Sabbath, a bank holiday was declared or held on the day of a half-holiday.