THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1923. ADVERTISE YOUR DISTRICT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4573, 11 June 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1923. ADVERTISE YOUR DISTRICT.

Frequently the matter of advertising the district, and its wonderful fertility has been discussed at' the Chamber of Commerce. No scheme has, however, yet been carried out of recent years that any real value can be traced to. Of the many thousands of people who visited the Waikato Winter Show, recently held in Hamilton, it is safe to assume that fully 95 per cent, of the visitors were particularly interested in the display made in the district courts section, in which Gordonton,, \Puketaha, and Otorohanga were represented. These courts were arranged in the right of the annexe leading from the main buildirigs. From an advertising point of view such exhibitions of the potential wealth of a district cannot be too highly estimated. Why should not Paeroa make itself better known ? If not Paeroa alone, it, may well be considered to stage, ’ say, a Goldfields court, and an Hauraki Plains court. There is no doubt that the Hauraki Plains are famous, but what a small percentage of people know what the Hauraki Plains can produce ? The president of the Board of Trade has expressed the opinion that the famous Hauraki Plains are not only the finest producing land in New Zealand, but among the richest land in the world. Surely he ought to know. Why not let people living outside the district know what can be produced. Seeing is believing, and we venture to suggest that by means of such an exhibition the district would receive one of the best boom advertisements it could possibly have. A prominent Hamilton land, agent says that when he wants to sell a farm he stands round the district courts, and he has not to wait long before a farmer will happen along, and,, being interested in the varied display made by one particular court, he immediately expresses the desire to see such a productive district. This is where the land agent comes in. It, is hardly necessary to here the many things which could be benched to form the exhibition. Suffice it to say that they would be fully representative of the district. Prominence could be given to root crops, maize, oats, wheat, barley, honey, fruit,, bacon, rabbits, hares, wool, hides flax, butter (home made), New Zealand timber, kauri gum, coal, gold, gravel, shingle, and so on. This is not- all. The women of the district would have ample opportunities -of displaying their talents in the art of fruit preserving, jam and conserves, pick-’ ling, fancy work, etc., all of which go towards making a very attractive display. Framed photographs of Various

pedigree herds, shelter bush, ; and such objects as drainage- operations, etc., distributed around the court would all add interest to the scheme.

It, is often heard remarked outside that Paeroa itself is “an old workedout mining town.” Why not correct this wrong and misleading statement about our.town ? . What better means could be had to show what the primary producers are doing than by a district court at the Winter Show, either at .Hamilton dr Auckland? Some small idea of what can be grown in the district is evidenced each year at the annual harvest festival services conducted by the various Churches. A more varied or better collection of fruit, vegetables, and cereals would be hard t,o find. Then, again, did not the scholars of our local District High School win the big silver cup against all schools in the Auckland province in the rootgrowing competition conducted by the Waikato. Winter Show Association last, year ? Wake up, Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains ! and take some intelligent interest, and pride in your district. Even now, get together and form your local committees. Get your Chamber of Commerce and various agricultural societies and local bodies and institutions" interested in the scheme. Write to the Winter Show secretary and obtain information and estimates for court space. Try and make a big effort to conclusively prove the productivity of your district, and at the same time show yourselves as being “on the map,” and that you are out to improve youi positions by mutual help and cooperation. The educational side of such a project would be a revelation to many people, and would be the best possible advertising medium for correcting false impressions and showing up the fertility of a district and the enterprise of its inhabitants in their true colours. Each of the three districts represented by courts at the recent show are smaller in comparison with the Thames Valley or Hauraki Plains areas, and it is quite safe to say that those districts cannot boast of the fertility or productivity of our own districts. It is hoped that this proposition will K be taken up with enthusiasm by all concerned, and that the project will be brought to a successful issue at the Waikato Winter Show next year.’