STATE SHOW EXHIBITS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8361, 22 February 1913, Page 13

STATE SHOW EXHIBITS

TO BE CURTAILED. In reply to a request from the Ashburton Agricultural aud Pastoral Association for a State exhibit at the forthcoming show, tho Department of Agriculture has intimated that, owing to the very heavy cost involved in the preparation of these exhibits and the claim they made upon the time of the officers, the department was reluctantly compelled to restrict its participation at shows; its general displays would be made at two winter shows in each island. The association was further advised that cased exhibits of noxious weeds, grasses, etc., were in course of preparation and would be available for exhibition at the smaller shows. In arriving at this decision tho authorities have no doubt been actuated by a desire to curtail the expense, which is admittedly heavy’, in collecting, staging and attending the exhibits; but when consideration is given to the educative value of the exhibition to the farming gpmmunity, aud the facilities that a travelling show of this kind provides for the officers and specialists in the various phases of field work to get into direct and personal touch with the man on the land, tho question of cost should not be unduly stressed. It is only within recent years that force of circumstances have awakened the primary producers to the necessity of more scientific methods in tho conduct of the areas under their management, and now that the now era in methods and farm husbandry are being adopted evdry opportunity .should bo taken to foster the spirit of jprogress that is manifested. If this specially favoured country is to fulfil its destiny in the production of tho fruits of the earth 'no reasonable-minded person can object to'a fair proportion of State revenue being devoted to experimental and demonstration work, and no better opportunity can be found for impressing the advantages of new and better means of increasing the earning power of the land than that offering at. agricultural shows. While it is possible that specific in, stances may be found where some extravaganco exists it has to be admitted that tho total amount of money drawn from the public purse to assist in promoting agricultural progress is extremely 'small when the aggregate .value of the revenue derived from farming pursuits is considered. It is not claimed that every farmer takes that keen interest in accumulating knowledge and putting it into practice that is desirable, but, even admitting that many of them take little or no apparent interest in any new development, the fact remains that their neighbours and a few progressii?e men in each district are , alive to the gains accruing from the new order of scientific teaching and are ready to adopt new principles. By this means objectlessons are provided which are in the course of time emulated by the whole community of farmers, and so the work of advancement goes ton. There are many who only take a superficial view, who are heard to say that State assistance in the way of instruction to farmers is being overdone in New Zealand, but it never seems to occur to them that our commercial existence depends entirely upon what the soil can be made to produce. The discovery of a new variety of cereal or the introduction of better methods of breeding and caring for stock may easily increase the earning power by millions to the benefit of all classes. Referring again to the State exhibits at winter shows, it is to be hoped that the committees controlling those fixtures that are to retain the department’s show cases will make adequate provision for reserving sufficient space to permit of a proper display being made, and not give preference to the vendors of trumpery jewellery ana other rubbish that should find no place in expensive jiuildings that have been provided for the staging of agricultural commodities.