The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1920. LESSONS OF THE SHOW.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 533, 21 May 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1920. LESSONS OF THE SHOW.

The promoters of the first Franklin Winter Show and the community in general may honestly be congratulated on the splendid array of exhibits brought forward; they form a striking tribute to the enthusiasm and enterprise of the people. And when one considers the difficulties the officials had to contend with, particularly in regard to the supplies of timber and other materials, and the genefal economic and industrial variations that have occurred during the progress of the building of the sheds and the carrying out of the multitudious preliminary arrangements, one can well believe the gentleman who said he had never before seen such a set of genuine workers, from, all pants of the district, banded together for any similar cause, and who individually and collectively did such sustained good work, day after day,, and week after week. But we must not consider the Show as an ultimate object, because it is, after all, merely a means to various worthy qnds. Among the aims of the promoters of agricultural and pastoral shows are a few of outstanding importance. A farmer examining the fine roots displayed, and learning the conditions under which they were grown can be self-convinced that he, by a little extra effort and care, may improve the quality of his produce, and also the quantity, which lesson, when imbibed by a large number of fawners, adds materially to the wealth production of the Dominion, and therefore the prosperity of the people. This, in its turn, gives opportunities for the acquirement i}f better educational equipment, finer social conditions, and consequent advancement in many lesser ways. Similar remarks apply to almost any Section or class in the Show, although the results may be attained through entirely different mediums. We are fond of talking about cooperation in these days, but insofar as this is intended to reduce competition we mean only that kind of competition which is obviously vicious and wadtetful; we have no desire to dest/oy that spirit of emulation and friendly rivalry which is the very best kind of competition, and whj'ch keeps humanity vigorous, purposeful and enterprising. Than a (such as we write of, there are her institutions so admirably ed to the good ends of inng the volume and quality of ctions by men and women, boys iris in their several spheres of be it the i

Vyious wild rumours have been in Papakura owing ta the of Dr. Brookbut WOrdhaS now been received that he was taken ill, and a seritius operation has been performed. He is now out of danger. V

The following persons" in this district have just been appointed justices of the peace: Joseph Batty (Patumahde), Alefc David Bell (Clevedon). David Burnside (Papakura). Airey Fawcett (Alevedon). John Hyde (Olevedon), and John Peat McCall (Moumoukai)). A special prize presented by Mr, Percy H. Basley in onder to induce farmers and agriculturists in Franklin County to supply to the society returns of thei'j respective yields per acre of potatoes for each season, was won. by Mr. Cecil H. Mason, of Pukekohe. The particulars will be found in our advertising columns to-day.

Once on the showgrounds, the rainy weather is not nearly so unpleasant as it was during the autumn show, because the big sheds built since can accommodate a large ctowd of people, and the sheltered sides of the buildings outside will also give a certain amount of protection to the few who might not be able to get inside if the crowd was extremely numerous. Major Spragg, of Opaheke, ,-is so pleased with the Patumahoe* exhibit at the Winter Show that he is offering a prize of £2 2s to iSfe Patumahoe boy or girl who writes the best essay on "The Benefits of a Winter Show to an Agricultural Community." The judge is to be selected by the president (Mr. J. N. Massey), and the essays : are to be forwarded to the secretary (Mr. D. R. Hamilton). The proprietor of _ the Onehunga Zoo (Mr. J. J. Boydjr, at the Franklin Winter Show, is ofFering a prize of ha,lf-a-guinea to the boy or girl who whites the best essay on the zoo. The essays are to be forwarded to the A. and P. Society secretary (Mr. D. R. Hamilton).

No end of excitement was created at the Winter Show last evening in the hunt for Mr. Spondulex, who appeared in the Show buildings punctually at 8.30 p.m. Shortly before 10 p.m. Mr. James Roulston announced that Mr. Alf P. Daysh was Mr. Spondulex, and that he had been sorted out from the large crowd by Mrs Joseph Reynolds, of Pukekohe East. Mrs Reynolds thus wins the prize attached to the event. Tonight Mrs Spondulex will make her presence felt, while to-morrow evening fascinating and bewitching Miss Spondulex should be the means| of providing fun for all in the hunt W her. '

The "make-up" of the "Times" is in process of transformation necessitated by the ever-increasing pressure, on our space. In future all doulriecolumn advertisements of a permanent nature must be placed on the outside pages, as is the invariable rule with larger journals. We know full well that advertisers are keen on securing what they may (rightly or wrongly) consider to be the best positions in a papey, but, like all other publishers, we have found that the granting of fixed positions lias been productive of endless inconvenience, and, like our contemporaries, are obliged to discontinue the practice. From to-day no fixed spaces will be contracted for, although all small advertisements will, be classified as far as possible. If anyone cares to examine this issue and compare it with the previous one, he or she .will note that we are considering local advertisers to a marked degree, and that outsiders aiie the first to suffer by the over-pressure on our space. To prove the assertion, we have cancelled two large advertisements from Auckland merchants which have continuously appeared in the "Times", for several years. For those who may feel aggrieved, there is the consolation that the "Times" is becoming a better and more wide-ly-read paper all the time. In the near future we shall probably be ex- j tending to eight pages.