GOVERNOR'S VISIT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 541, 26 May 1933, Page 5

GOVERNOR'S VISIT

TO WINTER SHOW prospects of district call forth appreciative cqmment/ MOST INTERESTIHG MORNING. "You have a fine show here," said" /His Excellep.cy, Lord Bledisjoe tq a ■"Morning Pqst" representative yes'terday morning after he had ma4.e a tqur of the Rptorua Winter Show, "and it just shows what I have •thought ever since the first time I came to Rotorua — this land is equal to any in HPW Zealand under proper treatment His Excellency went on to say that he was yery jmpressed with the f.apnir ing possibilities of the district and that he approved the policy of the Minister of Lands (Hon. E. A. Ransom) as outlined in the "Morning Post" of the preyious day. Mr, Ransom, he considered was on right lines in advocatjng • the cojisolidation Of t-the ground before pptting in permanent pasture. "I think that with proper consoli- ' dation measures of tfie soil before - grass is sown," said His Excellency, "there is no reason why this district should not grow the very best pf pastures. ' The root crops alone show • how really fertile this pumice land is with proper treatment and I bave always believed in pumice land.. It has shown that it can grow permaijent pasture of the best quality and the show proves that it is very fertile." Lord Bledisloe spent two hours at the show yesterday morning accompanied by the president, Mr. H. P. Ford, tfie hon. secretary, Mr. H. Wilkinson and the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson and expressed Tnmself as very favourably impressed with the qual]ity of the exhibits. He spent a good vdeal of time inspecting the root crops. Speaking of these exhibits he said that though he prefered the more solid root, yet the production of such roots as were on view appealed to him greatly. Denmark, he said was now leading the way in root production and English farmers were watching the Danish methods with much interest, He also spent a good denl of time over the ensilage exhibits which he said were of fine quality. He characterised the best ensilage as having an odour to the human nose of a blend of treacle, tobacco and chocolate and said that one at any rate of the entries fulfilled these conditions. As a poultry farmer, himself having a farm of 3000 birds, His Excellency displayed considerable interf;st in the poultry exhibits and spoke of his experience with the different breeds, mentioning the great popularity in England of the Light Sussex breed with which he had had consider'able experience himself and which he thought would be most suitable for' Rotorua conditions. He regretted that there was no entry of that breed in the show. With expert knowledge he investigated the maize exhibits, his criticism being upheld by his aide-de-i camp Lt. Thompson in whose homeland, S'outh Africa, under the name of "mealies" maize is the staple ^pd only food of millions of natives. He ■compared the various exhibits and displayed great interest and diversified knowledge in the carrots, turnips >and leguminous classes. The carrots especially interested him pnd he spoke of the different varieties which he'himself grew op his home farm. Praise for the Tourist's DepartLment's display and a criticism of the New Zealand pig as suitable for the English market were of great inter/est to the listeners and His ExceL . 'lency left behind him a fayourable dmpression both of his courtesy .and knowledge of his subject.