THE PAEROA SHOW.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5056, 24 November 1926, Page 2

THE PAEROA SHOW.

The twenty-eighth Agricultural and Pastoral Show of the Hauraki A. and P. Association is .to be held at Paeroa on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, and entries close with the sec/retary, Mr E. Edwards, toi-morrow. Perhaps because it is human nature to leave most arrangements until the eleventh hour, the full flow of entries rarely sets in before the last few days, but those which the association has received already indicate that interest in the Paeroa, Show is every whit as active this year as in the past, on the part both of district exhibitors and of those freta a distance. As is usual, a strong representation of ‘-foreign” bree.ders is making arrangements to show here, and Thames Valley stock is assured of worthy competition from sister districts. The preparation of a:nimals; for show purposes frequently entails some extra .attention for a considerable period prior to the time of exhibition ; but in one way it is not desirajble that this should be so. While no exception can be taken to the washing and grooming necessary to display a beast’s type and condition to the best advantage, the purpose -of agricultural and pastoral shows is to raisq the general standard, of stock, not to encourage the- breeding and nursing of isolated show animals. The quality of -a herd is that of its poorest rather th'ajn its best members. It is to .the credit of this district that its farm stock—which may be taken in the main as meaning its dairy stock—is mostly of uniformly high standard, with a percentage of purebreds considerably above the average for New Zealand. The point is; mentioned to justify a suggestion to fajmers who may not have intended entering -anything at the show, that they 'reconsider. Most herds and flocks are in good condition, and there remains a clear week to the Sjhow days—ample time to apply .those finishing touches necessary to advantageous display in ring, or judging pen. Without any knowledge of the entries, it would be possible now to name -a, dozen -or more exhibitors who will be forward next week—their stock is there every year. To these and their like is due the credit for founding the association and maintaining its reputation for over a quarter of a century. With the march of the years new names have appeared and some of the, older ones hhive vanished ; but still—and the same weakness may be detected in practically every part of the Dominion—there are numbers of able and successful farmers who seldom, if ever, show, despite the undoubted quality of their stock. There may be “nothing in it,” measuring in pounds, shillings, and pence, but the act of exhibiting helps the association and the district, and has a valuable educative effect on the farmer himself, by 'reason of the opportunities presented for conversation with the judges after their task

has been discharged. Also, the relief which competition and the-prepara-

tion for competition offers to the po's.siblq mental monotony of farm work is an influence which has been almost wholly overlooked by those who seek the means of holding farm boys- to the farms. We are sure .that none would be better pleased than the old hands if .the 1926 Hauraki—or perhaps better known Amongst exhibitors as Paeroa—Show were to go on record as the “new exhibitors’ show,” to which end we urge upon the waverets to enter and help this association.