NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 8

NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW.

THE CLOSING SCENES. EDUCATIONAL VALUE OP THE GATHERING. ■ (By Telegraph.—Special Eeporter.) Palmerston North, Juno 20. There ttos again a veTy large attendance for the concluding day of the National dairy show* fixture. Throughout tho ireek the -weather' has been all that could be desired, and it is not surprising to know that' the attendance throughout h'aa surpassed all previous records. This has t>een a fitting reward to the show promoters for the zeal enterpriso that ; has been shown in preparing for the event and seeing it through. There are no two j opituions about the success of this year s snow. Viewed .-from every standpoint, the j 1913 event has been the most successful wintor show .that has yet been held at Palmerston-. The entries have been larger than.ever before, and, what is of more consequence, the quality of the exhibits has improved as well. From the spectacular viewpoint, the great display of - produce of various kinds, # and the wonderful exhibition of machinery that lias been made, have impressed all visitors with the importance that attaches to the dairying industry. But there is another and more important aspcct of the gathering that is lost sight of by the majority of visitors, that is tho educative influence that the show exerts. If tho fixture existed only as on. exhibition. or produce and machinery, tli© gathering would avail little. Tho primary purpose 1 of the gathering is to instruct and enlighten, and when all is summed up it will' be 'found that the various meetings, I lectures, and discussions that have taken place during the week have been the best feature of the event. •- In the lecture hail hundreds of producers have been assembled) daily, dealing with problems of vital interest fcliftt affect the woll-Wing of the whole community. So rapid have been the change that have taken place in recent vears that farmers have hardly been ablfl'to keep pace with the altered requirements, and oonsquently they aro in need of expert instruction all along tne. line. The ,work dono at the conferences that have been held, during the past three days will assuredly leave its impress.on the work of the future. There has been jo mo ven r plain speaking about the need for reform in several directions, and now that responsible men have pointed out tlie main .weaknssses it remains for the men on the land to put the remedy into practice From the enthusiasm that haß been displayed throughout, there is every reason to believe that a new- era in the methods of agriculture, particu arly m its relation to the dairying industry, is approaching. Farmers are alive to the necessitv of reforms, and although improvements., may not come as quickly as some advocates would wish, thero is no doubt that .the advice that has been disseminated 'must'havo a beneficial effect. The winter show stands first as an educational factor, and there is every reason to believe that the work done this year at Palmerston will not bo in Tain.

THE COMPETITIONS. The tug-of-war, for a.first prize of £10, attracted three teams only, and did not provide the public with much excitement. The competing teams were: New .Zealand Railways, Borough Council Employees, and Palmerston Gas Works team. IJhe Cias Woifa men won in a. pul'-off with the' Railway men. Some considerable _disappointment was caused by the abandon mint of the Push-ball ™W£tion. TOis was!brought about through, tho buratuig of the only ball available, just before the time of starting the competitor!., . Tho annual fixture between Wellington aid Palmerston exponents ofAssociation football provided an oven and eicit iug contest. Palmerston. eventually won bj. two goals to nil. Horsey and it' Kitchen were the scorers.

THE SHOW TAKINGS. Tlio eeneral attendance at the show has been a record. The sum of £1025 was taken which i 3 -£21S better than last year.-' It is computed that in the four days, 33,500 persons passed through the turnstiles and gates.