Waikato Winter Show.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4421, 31 May 1922, Page 2

Waikato Winter Show.

A GREAT EXHIBITION. WORLD’S BIGGEST DAIRY DISPLAY. A LARGE ATTENDANCE. A FINE SPECTACLE. THE OPENING DAY. The depressing,weather of the past few days, which augured anything but well for Show Week, fortunately took a complete turn f]or the better yesterday, the morning breaking in a heavy mist which later cleared and allowed the sun to shine brilliantly through. It has been a great day for the opening of the greatest Waikato, and probably New Zealand, has yet seen When the doors were flung open at 2.30 and the huge crowds, streamed in the stands presented a very fine spectacle. The special trains in were heavily laden, and under such an auspicious opening this year’s exhibition promises to be the most successful, from the standpoint of attendance, the Association Las yet experienced. It is certainly the best in all other respects. When the officials assembled round the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W.' Nosworthy, in the gallery, prior to the opening, the concourse of people below was very great. Speeches were, delivered by the Mayor - (Mr J. P.. Fow), the member for Waikato (Mr J. A; Young) 1 , and the Minister for Agriculture, the latter, amid applause, declaring the Show open. The visitors then, set off on their rounl of; inspection, and as the afternoon wore bn their ranks were considei’ably augmented. - Amongst those who were present at the opening was Mr .H. Poland, member for Ohinemuri. THE SHOW. There is a time in the life pf most shows when pessimists begin to won-, de." whether it is worth while continuing, but the great Waikato Wintei Show, the premier exhibition in New Zealand, 'has withstood all tests and all trials and has grown .to become the talk of people interested in shows throughput, the Dominion. Bj’ some it is held that a district makes a show, while the reverse is the opinion of other people, but there is little doubt that the Show has been the big factor in making Waikato what it is to-day, although, of course, the district could not have attained its present reputation had it not possessed some intrinsic merit right class of settler to pioneer it to victory. The Show is bigger and better than it has ever been, and justifies the title which the committee claims for it of being the most important winter show in New Zealand and the greatest dairy show in the world. THE GREAT DAIRY EXHIBIT. The chief; section on which the Show Association prides itself -is, of course, the- great dairy exhibit. This year there areno less than 668 individual- entries of butter and cheese from factories in ajl parts of both islands. In fact there is scarcely a factory in the Dominion that is not represented. When we consider that -at the first Show, 13 years ago, the ' entries totalled three only, the growth of this particular department can to .'some extent be guaged. The dairy entries this year are over 260 more than last year, being comprised of; '373 of butter and 295 of cheese, or double the number ever entered tor any show in the whole of Australasia. One of the great things that impressed Mr W. Goodfellow during his re cent trip to Europe and America was ;the fact that quality in dairy produce is going to be the chief marketing factor of the future. Quality, quality, quality, was the thing he stressed most, tor it was only by being superior in this respect, he said, that :New Zealand produce could hope to hold its own on the British! market in face of’the unequal conditions. This being so it is essential, that every incentive should- be given and every effort made to encourage the production of butter, cheese, and dried milk of the very highest grade only, and it is by such means as the Waikato Winter Show Association is using that the best results in this respect are likely to be attained. THE SHOW AN EDUCATOR. The Show is an educator: it enables competitors to see with a clearer vision the mistakes they have made and gives them an incentive to. strive to remedy defects in future. This has an excellent effect in keeping up the standard, for it creates a healthy rivalry amongst factory managers who are each striving to earn for their factories and.themselves the laurels of producing the best butter and cheese in the Dominion. And mistake not, this is some honour indeed, for the title of the best buttermaker in the Dominion approximates to that Qf the best butter-maker in the world. So that the value of a show such as this is good . even to those who fail to secure prizes, for has a stimulating effect, and stimulants in this respect are needed ROOT CROPS. The display of root crops is a sight and proves what can be done with the South, Auckland, soil. HORTICULTURAL. The horticultural entries are practically double what they were last year, and this section is the best yet staged at the Show. ■ FORESTRY. , Thd Forestry Department is a.new exhibitor, however, and is displaying quite a large assortment of trees, while its representative .is present to advise farmers and .others on the classes of tree' to plant pn different, natures of soil. , DISTRICT COURTS. Included in the horticultural section are four district courts, one each from Raglan, King Country, Puketaha and Gordonton. These are all exhibitions in miniature, fully comprehensive b 4! the capabilities of the districts which they represent. They

contain not only products of the land, but products of the home also, and are really excellept advertisements for their districts. If other districts of the province would follow the lead of these four they would find themselves more talked about and would reap a great benefit, although perhaps indirect, for by their exhibits the peo. pie from outside are shown exactly what the districts are capable of producing. instead of having to rely upon uncertain and often exaggerated verbal praise. HOME INDUSTRIES. This year the home industries 'are a show in themselves, comprising as they do no less than 1500 separate articles of cookery and needlework, which again is a big increase on. last year. The school exhibit Is alsq an exceedingly large one, and includes samples of children’s writing, drawing, mapping, cookery and- needlework from schools ip all parts of the, province and districts and beyond...j POULTRY. Increased interest has been takes by poultry-keepers in the poultry division, the entries for which-'easily constitute a record for the Auckland province. Quality also is of the very highest, and the big. exhibition of fine plumaged, handsome birds makes a very brilliant stowing. DOGS. The Hamitlon Kennel Club, whose annua l dog show is being run in conjunction with the Winter Show, although quite a separate institution, has reached the proud position of. being the leading dog show in New Zealand, and' for the present exhibition there arc over 1000 entries, which come from all parts of the Dominion. TRADE EXHIBITS. The trade exhibits this year exceed anything previously seen at the Show, and fir,ms are represented from all parts of| the Auckland province, and frpm Hawera, Stratford, Eltham 1 , Wellington, and Christchurch. ' ENTERTAINMENT'. ; lit the centre of the main hall a stand has been erected for entertainment purposes, from-which the.famous Walter Smith Hawaiian orchestra will provide music at intervals. There will also be school, ctoir compeutions, on Thursday morning, for which there ar© six entries, while exhibitions of Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, dancing will be given by a young lady specially engaged from Auckland. PLUNKET The Plunket Society again has a room in the Show, where mothers may sit and rest and, secure hbt water fpr their infants. . Ther© is also frost and telegraph office in the'buildings, where telegrams may be sent, stamps obtained, .apd letters posted. JUDGES’ COMMENTS. BEST DISPLAY EVER STAGED. The judges remarked that the display of butter was not only the largest, but frpm a quality point ofi view, considering the numbe? of exhibits, the best that has ever been staged in New Zealand. The great per centage of butter was of a very high order indeed, while the number of low scoring exhibits was almost negligible. In some classes over 40. entries were exhibited, so that while winners were to be congratulated, many of tto’pther exhibitors had reason to feel proud’ pf their high though non-prize-takiiig scores. A very pleasing feature, the judges added, was the number and quality of the exhibits in the assistants’ class.