WINTER SHOW

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 4

WINTER SHOW

NOTABLE ATTRACTIONS. OPENING DAY TO-MORROW! Confidence and painstaking effort on the part of all concerned with the 38th Winter Show, which opens at the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Showgrounds to-morrow, have made the fixture one which should stand* out in the series which have marked the calendar of the city and its surrounding districts. The total entries compare very favourably with those of last year, and are in advance of the aggregate for 1938. Following the Government’s wish that normal activities of the Dominion should proceed with as little interruption as possible, the A. and P. Association decided early in the present war not to abandon either the Spring or Winter Shows. Exhibitors and those taking trade space have roundly supported the association in- its decision, and particular gratification is felt by. the committee at the outcome of their efforts and those of their associates. COMPARISON OF ENTRIES. This year’s Winter Show has brought forward a total of 2291 entries, late entries being numerous. As against this there were 2344 last year and 2147 at the Winter Show of 1938. The entries in the individual classes, with those for the 1939 Show, are:—-

The largest drop in number is shown in the schools division, but increases are recorded in the competitions, the farm products and the dairy factory butter and cheese. The basic sections, on this occasion, therefore, have shown increases. The class for chilled beef is being held at the Winter Show for tlie first time this year, and the response of 41 entries is considered excellent. The entries in the other sections approximate those of last year, so that, from the standpoint of the public’s interest in the competitive divisions, there will be no change on account of the war conditions. , Not only in these competitive . sections, but also in the trade exhibits, sterling efforts have been made to maintain the high standard set in previous Shows. Certain materials used in the construction of the stalls have been in short supply, but ingenuity and skilful work have brought forward tasteful displays which should excite the interest of town and country people alike. In this phase are to be found advances which have been made in many of the comforts and smaller luxuries of life, while in the machinery hall, where all the machinery (both dairy and agricultural) has this year been grouped, the farmer will find the latest in mechanical development. Show displays have for long been a measuring rod for the farmer to check up on his own attainments and his possessions in the way of laboursaving equipment which will allow him to better conduct his holding. This year, admitted on all sides to be a crucial one. the importance of trou-ble-free and efficient working on the farm will be greater than before. BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Butter and elicese exhibits iarc considered synonymous with the term Winter Show, and the A. and P. Association has been particularly fortunate in this section. Faced with the unavoidable defection of entries from three important dairy factories, the Rangitikei (destroyed by fire), ltongotea and Rata companies (the latter two now taking the supply from the first-named company’s area and not having the facilities remaining for the making of show butter), expectations were that the entries in this division would show a decline. However, the entry of factories which have not forwarded exhibits to the Show before or have not done so for some considerable time, advanced the total to beyond that of last year. The new exhibitors are the Albertland (North Auckland), Buller (Westport), Locliiel (Southland), Matakana, Oruru-Fair-burn (Mangonui), and Ryal Bush concerns. The display will be staged this year in the Entertainment Hall, the butter being set out on stands which will allow of its close inspection and the cheese arranged in a pyramid. In the Entertainment Hall also will be seen the women’s industrial division and the Women’s Institute courts. Particular emphasis has been laid in the Women’s Institute competition this year on the arts and crafts, which will now be of greater import-ance-in the household. The competition also embraces displays of preserved and dried fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, sauces, potted and preserved meats, herbs,’ etc. Mr B. E. Keiller, senior vice-president of the association, has donated a beautiful silver vase, valued at £5 ss, for the championship award, this vase to be won twice in succession or three time 6 at intervals to become the property of an institute. IMPORTANCE OF BACON. , i Finding its early incentive in the Pig Development Club, the improvement in the Manawatu in the standards of pig husbandry has been steadily pushed forward by the Wellington Pig Council which has, as with- the Pig Development Club, warmly welcomed the opportunity of demonstrating through Show displays the avenues by which betterment may be realised. As with last year’s fixture, a bacon display is being made at the Show, and early reports are that the quality of the exhibits on the whole has shown another 6tep forward. The exhibit will be ranged along the rear walls of the Produce Hall, as before, and will l>e one of the main sections therein. Increased production of bacon is the central theme of the effort for this year’s Show, and the aim of the Pig Council is that, even with certain drawbacks, a reasonably efficient farm can turn off one baconer per cow per season. With 1,500 000 cows being milked in the Dominion this effort to increase the output of food for Britain aims at a high figure and is found in an avenue which has been stressed again and again as being most- important. The Pig Council, further, demonstrates that the baooner per cow can be secured by the farmer growing food on bis own farm, and efforts are being made bv the council to induce farmers not milking dairy herds to undertake the growing of grain which may be

used in pig production. Lectures on this subject are to be given on Thursday at. noon and 2 p.m. RUGBY CARNIVAL. In addition to the attractions which are looked upon as being part and parcel of the Show itself, patrons will be treated on this occasion to a feast of Rugby football, while a representative hockey match will also be staged. On the opening day the Weraroa and Ohakea Air Force Rugby teams will be in action on the oval and, judging I from the open, exhilarating play of the Ohakea side in the Rugby Union’s championships, the match should be an outstanding one. On Wednesday one of the annual features of Palmerston North’s winter sport will he staged, the meeting of the teams from the Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Te Auto Maori-Boys’ College. The play in this match .has set a standard for har'd, clean and bright football, and nothing stands in the way of this year’s match being another in a long series of thrilling encounters. The curtain-raiser to this match will be the annual hockey fixture between the Manawatu and Wellington Associations; fast and attractive contests have been seen in other years. On Thursday the Young Farmers’ Clubs are conducting a seven-a-side tourney, the final being played in the afternoon, and on Saturday the representative teams from the Wanganui and Manawatu Rugby Unions will be matched. PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT.

Particular attention will be focussed this year on the official opening of the Show, at 2 p.m. to-morrow, by reason of the fact that Hon. P. Fraser, the Prime Minister, will officiate. The importance of primary production at this time and the backing which the Government has been promised in any efforts for further increases in farming output, make it most apt that the Prime Minister should speak at such a gathering. Over the whole of its life, the Manawatu Winter Show has been a gathering point for the members of, various breed societies and others interested in the primary industries. In the lull of the winter months travel becomes the more easy than in the busy periods and on this occasion there will be numerous meetings and conferences. For the general public, nightly entertainments on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday by "Miss Ana Hato and lier Maori party from Rotorua should prove most popular. Renowned as a singer, despite the fact that she has had no training, Miss Hato’s presentations should draw large crowds. In addition, as in other years, the annual exhibitions of the Manawatu Poultry Club and the Palmerston North Canary and Budgerigar Club will be held, these two fixtures in themselves having a large following. To-morrow will be country children's day, when the pupils from a number of country schools will be the guests of the association for the day. They will be provided with luncheon at the nominal charge of threepence. FIRST DAY’S PROGRAMME. The programme for to-morrow includes:— 9 a.in. —Judging of field roots, vegetables, fuit, bakers’ bread Women’s Institute courts, needlework, knitting, cookery and photography. 1 p.m.—Dog trials demonstration. 2 p.m:—Official opening of Show by the Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser). 2.30 p.m.—Rugby football: Weraroa and Ohakea Air Force Training Stations’ teams. 5.30 p.m. —Show closes until 7 p.m. 7.30 p.m.—Free entertainment by Miss Ana Hato and Maori party. 8.30 p.m.—Free entertainment by Miss Hato and her Maori party. 10 p.m.—Show closes.

1940 1939 CornpeitilionA 240 234 Schools division 92 154 Farm products, field roots, vegefables, fruit, honey and bacon 625 ) 621 Special fat lamb classes (frozen) Fat cattle 13 9 41 • — Bakers’ bread 47 52 Women's Institute’s Courts ... 8 18 Arts and crafts, needlework and knitting 241 \ 253 Cookerv, preserves and other 303 312 . home industries Photography 72 • 147 Dairy factory butter and cheese 524 520