The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, MARCH 13th, 1923. A. AND P. SHOW.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, MARCH 13th, 1923. A. AND P. SHOW.

The Westland A. and I*. Show will re- j, cur again to-morrow. The management is to be complimented on these annual gatherings, often carried on under adverse conditions. But the troubles and difficulties of the past in ninny respects should disappear after this year. By reason of linking up by

rail with Canterbury ore next show Lime conies round, the management will have a much enlarged area to draw from. Canterbury has a renowned annual show itself, and many of the excellent features of that display could in the future be transferred here, if the local management showed sufficient enterprise. There is no doubt if the date for the 192'! show were fixed well in advance, and the Committee took special means to advertise the fact, and otherwise make the event known at the November Show at Addington. the foundation would be laid for an outstanding show here next year. That, however, is for the future. For the present we are on the threshold of the local annual event, and the promoters have been assiduous in working up the details for a notable event on the racecourse to-mornv. The first contributing factor to any exhibition is the assurance of good entries. It is understood this is secured for which result the settlers are to lie congratulated. Shows of this nature are an excellent medium for bringing about the material prosperity of a farming district, flood stock and better is an essential to success in pastoral pursuits, and as Westland has a remarkable future ahead of it as a stock raising territory, it is well, indeed, to secure and to maintain good herds. More and more hloixl stock can with special advantage he brought into the district. The settler who has a good animal naturally takes both a pride and a pleasure in showing off the beast, and if all the settlers made up their minds with regard to pedigree stock, it can he readily realised the sliows need not go rfiort of entries. So we hope to see this highly essential aid to the districts prosperity cultivated more and more, and we believe the annual show uil! be a material help to that end. The agricultural side of the show is not likely to become specially strong, because fbe climate imposes certain drawbacks with regard to crops, but as time goes on, with increasing population and closer settlement—both urgently neededmore and more cultivation will take place, aiid the agricultural side of our development will become more and more tnaikcd, and the present generation will yet see results which will surprise them. With regard to home produets and farm produce, there is no doubt as more competition comes into j these classes of commodities greater excellence will lie shown and more wealth brought into the district. The winter show held at Kokntnhi a few months ago. gave an inkling of latent resources if they had fuller scope, and as the district becomes linked up with the outside markets, and the commodities find ft ready sale at a remunerative price, that side of farm production must expand. Westland is praised very often ill regard to its pastoral prospects. It is a fodder producing territory and primarily must become u great grazing district, both in regard to dairying and fat shock. There is thus need for these annual shows to bring out the points of the stock in the district, or to encourage the introduction of better stock into the district to add to the future productivity. The A. and |\. Shows are to he welcomed because of their educational and competitive value and to be encouraged because of the material effect they can exorcise on the present and immediate progress of the province.