THE SHOW'S THE THING.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 23, 20 October 1937, Page 4

THE SHOW'S THE THING.

To-day marks the opening of the 75th. Spring Show conducted under the auspices of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and • Pastoral Society. For three-quarters of a century now the Society has maintained an unbroken sequence of these yearly ex:hibitions of the live stock and other farming products of the ' country. Commencing from seemingly very small things, though still of great importance in those bygone days when the fcundations of the then colony were being laid, the Society's history has been one of continuous progress, and to-day its anrmal display has conie to be regarded as one of the foremost in the Dominion. To it are drawn from almost every part of the North Islnnd first ciass exhibits by way of substantial supptement to the many of like character which the provincial district can itself provide. So firmly has it become established that most folk and specially townsfolk regard it as something that, like Topsy, has "jiist growed." But, as a matter of fact, in its. early years it was a plant of delicate growth that took a very great deal of tender and solicitous nursing, and it may very well be doubted whether at the present day anything like the credit due to them is given to the pioneers who so successfully brought it through those perilous times of infancy. Since then, too, there have been periods of adversity — one of such recent occurrence and' such long duration as not likely tc be forgotten— when there were grave difficulties in the way of maintaining continuity, and that, too, without the many helpful facilities that are now available. To those who have guided it through all these tribulations the present generation cannot be too thankful. Nor is it to be thought that even now the Show is something that "runs itself", though things go so smoothly that such an opinion roight easily be formed, As a matter of fact, theie is still necessarily involved an amount of organisation and attention to detail that is known only to those whose lot it is to make assurance of sur.cess. Here, again, it 1 may well be doubted whether there is anything like adequate appreciation of the efforts that have to be put forth, not only by the organisers, but also by the exhibitors. At the same time there can be no doubt that all this is well worth while, for there can be no question as to the fine stimuius which these shows provide towards the improvement of the flocks and herds of the Dominion. they are of highly educative value in disclusing what can be done by skillful selection in breeding lines,^and they promote the friendly rivalry from which so much good results when directed along the right lines. And here, again, too much cannot be said in recognition of the deep debt which those of the piesent day owe to the men of eriterprise and judgment, who, through all these long years, hav- realised and filled the need for keeping up a fairly constant stream of new blood wherewith to reinforce that of home developmeiit. To them are most assuredly due in very large measure the high siauciirds that arc reached among the show stock of to-day. Never moie than iust now has there been need for preserving and extending these standards and for pressing forward to their betterment. In the face of frequently recurring low prices and of constantly mcreasing competition in the world's markets the only hope of success lies in a high level of both quality and productiveness. To these ends shows such as that which is now in progress at Tomoana most undoubtedly make a very appreciable contribution. All this is probably fully understood by our country friends, but for most townsfolk the Show is just a good exquse for a pleasant day's outing. They go to it much as they. go to the picture theatre, thinking a little more of it perhaps because it comes only once a year. The more thoughtful among them, however, see in it a display of the chief factors that not only go to bring about our days pf prosperity, but also stand well to us in our days of adversity. Difftcult and all as our experiences have been in the past, and low as occasionally have been the returns for our produce, it is easy to see that they must have been much worse and much lower had it not been for those who in the past have established a reputation for our products that enables them to command somewhere near the best prices that are going. Thus, apart altogether from the entertainment and pleasure to be derived, the Show is vvorthy of all the support and patronage that townsfolk can afford to lend it, and tomorrow offers them opportunity to give practicai expression to their understanding of this by helping to establish a "record" attendance. •v