This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/25/showmens-guild-plays-vital-role-for-travelling-fairs
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Showmen’s Guild plays vital role for travelling fairs | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) seems to be on another planet in its allegations against the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain (Watchdog: unfair trade body could be stifling competition, 22 December). Its provisional findings would appear to have been reached without any serious consideration of the history of fairs in this country and the environment in which travelling showmen operate. How many fairs did they actually visit during their deliberations – or were they all conducted in splendid, ideologically bound isolation? Their conclusions certainly do not bear any relationship to reality on the fairground. | The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) seems to be on another planet in its allegations against the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain (Watchdog: unfair trade body could be stifling competition, 22 December). Its provisional findings would appear to have been reached without any serious consideration of the history of fairs in this country and the environment in which travelling showmen operate. How many fairs did they actually visit during their deliberations – or were they all conducted in splendid, ideologically bound isolation? Their conclusions certainly do not bear any relationship to reality on the fairground. |
| Contrary to their suggestion, there is always pressure “to provide different or new attractions” – and it comes from the fairgoers, who from time immemorial have always looked for novelty at the annual fair. The travelling showman is acutely aware of this and has always sought to satisfy this demand. But he can only reinvest in his business if he has the sort of security and stability that the 127-year-old Showmen’s Guild has been able to offer its members through its regulations. These regulations, it should be said, are democratically agreed by its members and have always been subject to revision in light of changing economic and social circumstances. In addition to the benefits conferred on its own members, the guild also provides organisations such as local authorities (and ultimately all fairgoers) with the assurance that its members comply with more socially important considerations including strict fairground safety requirements. | Contrary to their suggestion, there is always pressure “to provide different or new attractions” – and it comes from the fairgoers, who from time immemorial have always looked for novelty at the annual fair. The travelling showman is acutely aware of this and has always sought to satisfy this demand. But he can only reinvest in his business if he has the sort of security and stability that the 127-year-old Showmen’s Guild has been able to offer its members through its regulations. These regulations, it should be said, are democratically agreed by its members and have always been subject to revision in light of changing economic and social circumstances. In addition to the benefits conferred on its own members, the guild also provides organisations such as local authorities (and ultimately all fairgoers) with the assurance that its members comply with more socially important considerations including strict fairground safety requirements. |
| Some of the guild’s regulations the CMA criticises were actually introduced to bring greater order to the fairground industry at a time when unfettered competition was resulting in unseemly incidents that were a credit to no one. The rules of the Showmen’s Guild have a strong, ethical basis: a fact that is due in large measure to the influence of its first full-time general secretary, the Reverend Thomas Horne, a clergyman who had long campaigned on the showmen’s behalf. | Some of the guild’s regulations the CMA criticises were actually introduced to bring greater order to the fairground industry at a time when unfettered competition was resulting in unseemly incidents that were a credit to no one. The rules of the Showmen’s Guild have a strong, ethical basis: a fact that is due in large measure to the influence of its first full-time general secretary, the Reverend Thomas Horne, a clergyman who had long campaigned on the showmen’s behalf. |
| Perhaps the CMA should reveal why they have conducted this presumably costly exercise in chasing imaginary butterflies?Graham DownieChairman, Fairground Association of Great Britain | Perhaps the CMA should reveal why they have conducted this presumably costly exercise in chasing imaginary butterflies?Graham DownieChairman, Fairground Association of Great Britain |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |