MARTON SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1674, 14 February 1913, Page 8

MARTON SHOW.

OPENED BY THE PREMIER,

'• • ; '-DETAILED PRIZE LIST. , (By Telegrapii.-Special Reporter.) m. , r ' _ Marlon, February 13." ~-r ho Marton,District A. and P. Association niade its entrance into tho show world to-day,• when its first annual show .was, opened,on. tlie Martou rncecourse. •ine was line,.and everything in connection with, the gathering nui smoothy- lho racccourse lent itself admirably to tho purposes of the show. Tho attendance was highly satisfactory, but tho entries..could have been larger. In quite a number of the classes scheduled there was _no ■ competition, and in others the entries, were, very few. The sheep'classes tilled up best, but there was'also n good .show of horses. "In'the cattle -section 'crossbreds were.tho only stock which came" forward in any numbers. Discussing the cattle exhibits, a veteran ' breeder'■ in tho district'remarked that some, of-tho stock was really good, but there might l;o more of it,- and a few of the rtninials would ■Imve been just as well off at home. In all .the classes,' however, and especially in the milking classes, there were soiud very fine exhibits. . Two cows shown by L. M. Kiohards were, in the opinion of the breeder in question, fit to show anywhere, on the coast. Exhibitors had been well treated,, and next year's show would no doubt see largeY entries. , '. •"The show was officially opened by tlie i'rnno Minister (Hon. W.. F.'Massey). ™ president; of : the associntion, Mr. Wy J.. Birch, introduced Mr. Massey as Prima Minister of the Dominion, and asa farmer.. (Applauso.) ■ Tho Prime Minister, who was received with applause,; congratulated the . association on, its outlook and general prospects., home twenty years ago he had occupied a position similar to that held by Mr. Birch at present, ,He was president of a new •' ? j— Association with its first show in hand, and he knew what it was to be one of a number of officials who worked for weeks and months to make-the show success. The show he roferre<l to -it ns the Auckland A. and P. show, and although.be had.not been closely connected with it for some years, that show had Brown to btv one of the largest in New Zealand. He hoped that the same propress would mark the Mnrton Association I .' There was no-reason why this show shrtild not be successful, as Mnrton was the cenprobably the largest agricultural district m' the Dominion, and. in time to come he hoped that, Marton c.vKib.its would be seen on tho Auckland'slowground and vice versa. (Applause.) Mr. Massey proceeded to refer to the educar tional value of A. and P. shows, nml to improvement which the healthy competition at the shows effected on The district's stock. Many things were happening in the agricultural'world that weie gladdening to the heart. They were experiencing a particularly good season, mid prices both in New Zealand and at Home were good., Wool had not sold better for many years, and the same applied to rauttoii, lamb; and dairy produce, and flax was selling well. Tho country vns experiencing a season of great prosperity, nnd ho congratulated New Zealand on Die fact. It was good for the farmer and the townspeople alike, "anil," added Mr. Massey, "particularly good for the Government, and I .spcak very feelingly on this .point.". (Laughter and applause.) On the motion of / tho Mayor of Marton (Mr. Beckett), three cheers were given for Mr. Massey. In passing, Mr. Beckett remarked that the next time Mr. Massey camo to Marton they would be able to show him over the Agricultural College which they hoped to have. (Applause.) Mr. E. Newman. M.P., remarked that Mr. Massey was tho head of a Government which had the interests of the farmer at heart—(applause)—and no Government for years had been so representative ot,tho farmer. Mr. Massey, ho added, represented the small farmer.' During tho past two days he had shown Mr. Massey half a dozen farms in tho district, any one of which would make an excellent Agricultural College site. Mr. Newman said that if he had the funds ho would be willing to buy these farms, .-ml hand them over to the Government, ind, if at the end. of ton years,. t.liey were not. a success, to take them over. By so doing, he was sure a considerable profit c< uld be made. In conclusion, Mr. Newman facetiously remarked that Marton must have competition from some of the "sideshows," such as Palmcrston, Feilding, and Wanzanui, but Marton, he averred, was tlie site for .a Tioyal show. (Aipplause.)