WAIKATO WINTER SHOW.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4570, 30 May 1923, Page 2

WAIKATO WINTER SHOW.

FORMER EFFORTS ECLIPSED. Tne Waikato Winter Show was opened in perfect weather yesterday, and a record attendance the first day was assured. Promptly at 2 p.m. the Prime Minister,, accompanied by Messrs A. J. Young, R. Bollard, F. F. Hockley, MacMillan, M’s.P., and J. L. Fow, Mayor of Hamilton, ascended the dais. Mr Massey was introduced to the gathering by Mr H. Clark, president of t,he Waikato Winter Show Association.

In welcoming Mr Massey to the Waikato, and to the Show in particular. Mr Clark said that he was proud to state the entries received this, year constituted a record. There was an increase of 200 entries in the cheese section over last year, and cot responding exhibits showed a marked, increase. The Winter Show was that day celebrating its 17th birthday. U was a matter for congratulation that the people of the Waikato and surrounding districts had such faith in their country. The outlook was most, promising, and, given fine weather, iwas fairly safe to predict that this year’s Show would eclipse former efforts.

On rising to speak Mr Massey was received with a most enthusiastic reception, and it was some minutes before he could make himself heard. The Prime Minister said that he was pleased to see such a large gathering, and he was delighted at the wonderful progress made. He could safety say that, in his opinion, the Waikato Winter Show compared favourably with any show in the world. It. was indeed a great credit to the president, his executive, and the producers of the district. It was most gratifying to see that, the representatives of t,he nrimary producers were working with the representatives of the secondai y industries. The dairying season had been a remarkably good one, and the country’s exports had increased enormously. ‘lt was only by the efforts of the primary producers that New Zealand had recovered from the slump as quickly and as favourably as it had done. The Prime Minister said that if the people of New Zealand wanted the Dairy Industry Control Bill passed they could have it. There was no political, party interested, in delaying the passage of the Bill. He counselled the producers to stick together, as it was only by their united, effor ts that deeds could be accomplished and the prosperity of New Zealand maintained. EXPORTS TO BRITAIN. Mr Massey said that the producers of New Zealand must make up their minds to send Home only the best class of produce. Second-rate stuff was not wanted. The people of Britain wanted the best, and they were prepared to pay for it. This advice applied particularly to the export of beef. He said th'at experience had shown that bullocks up to 2% years, well fattened, met with the best market at Home. It was no use sending cull cows. The butter exported was among the finest in the world, as also was New Zealand lamb and mutton. If these lines were followed, thought there would be no possibility of New Zealand going back. At the present time New Zealand was supplying Great Britain with one-third of the butter, consumed, and cheese exported represented one-half of the total amount, consumed at Home, a wonderful achievement, considering that the population of New Zealand was so small, yet it spoke volumes for t,he productivity of the country, which was very little behind Great Britain as far as the actual area was concerned. ARTIFICIAL MANURES. The Prime Minister said one could not visit such an exhibition w.ithout considering what an enormous amount of good that, had been taken out of the soil. To maintain the present rate and standard of productivity it was becoming more and more evident how necessary it was t,o ton-dress the land by means of artificial manures. It was to meet the enormous demands for manures that the Government had seen fit to purchase a share in the Nauru and ocean phosphate islands. By this action of the Government the problem of top-dress-ing had been considerablj’ lessened, as also had the cost. In 1921 the cost of Nauru phosphate ock was £4 5s per ton ; to-day the cost, was £2 12s 3d. Concerning ground Nauru phosphate, in 1921 the cost was £9 12s 6d pe'r ton, while the present price is £5 10s, and the Government, was in a position to make even a further reduction verv shortly. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Mr Massey considered that all possible should be done to encourage agricultural education in New Zealand. Farming was a. science, and it was only by acquiring expert knowledge that farming could be carried on* successfully, and satisfactorily meet the growing competition of other countries. The Waikato people were very fortunate in having the Ruakura experimental farm in their own district. The Department was sparing no efforts, as far as finances permitted, to make this farm as up-to-date as possible. The Government fully realised that it must enocurage agricultural education. He hoped before ve ,- y long to have an agricultural college established in the North Island. Tis college would be run on similar lines to the Lincoln College, in Canterbury.

At the conclusion of Mr Massey’s address the show was declared open.