Wanganui A&P Association in recess after 145 years

IN RECESS: The Wanganui A&P Association has canned this year's A&P show but the amusement rides are still coming.

The 145-year-old Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association has gone into recess, meaning there will be no A&P show in Whanganui this November.

President David Luty said the committee has had only five or six active members for the past five years and did not have enough people to run the show.

"The main reason for coming to the decision to go into recess is that fewer and fewer people have been prepared to offer their services to run the sections of the show still active and the committee has become too small to effectively run such a promotion," Mr Luty said.

"Also influencing the decision has been that over the last three years losses have been incurred and the association has found that sponsorship has been harder to get.

"The show has been on the decline for about 20 years. If you can't make a profit, everything goes down the tubes. I remember as a kid we had a day off school for the show, it was a real big drawcard. Now, everyone just wants to go on the rides."

The attractions at the show have dwindled over the years. Mr Luty said it was more than 25 years since the stock (including pigs, sheep and cattle) competition had been part of the show and the home industries section ended about five years ago.

However, wood chopping, the lamb and calf competition and a few trade stalls have continued, along with the amusement rides and sideshows.

Mr Luty said the association understood that Mahon's Amusements will still come to Whanganui in November and the Axemen's Association will hold its events as usual on November 11-12.

The committee intends to review its decision to go into recess in April 2018.

"Hopefully, next year when we readdress the situation we may have some new young blood to help run the show," Mr Luty said.

Margaret Donoghue, who died on August 30, was a tireless organiser of the A & P Show and on its committee for years.

In 2014, when the show was in its 140th year, she and president David Luty told the Chronicle they were looking for new committee members and wanted to keep it going until its 150th year.

"If we both decided that's it, we're going to give up, there will be no A & P Show," Mr Luty said.

In 2012 and 2013 Mrs Donoghue said there would be no home industries section, because no one had stepped up to take it over.

In 2011 she was the show's main organiser, and in 2010 was its secretary, treasurer and main organiser for the fourth year running.

"I think I am doing a civic duty and I hope Wanganui enjoys it," she said at that time.