South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2448, 22 January 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

Although the season for Agricultural and Pastoral Shows is in the remote distance, the time is opportune for considering what means should be adopted with a view to their improvement. That considerable room for improvement exists, is undeniable. These annual competitions have not progressed with the expansion of farming and grazing pursuits, or at a fair ratio with the general advancement of the colony. They have grown certainly, but not in proportion to the growth of the interest they represent. The last show of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was admittedly one of the best that has ever been held at Timaru, but when everything has been said that can be said of its merits, it must be acknowledged to have been but a feeble reflex of the producing capabilities of the district. The competition in many of the classes was far from satisfactory. The display of cattle, sheep, and horses, though good, was not up to anticipation, and the entries of agricultural products were decidedly limited. Considering the vast resources of this district, the exhibition here ought to be the grandest of its kind in New Zealand. There is a splendid field for competition to draw upon, if the competitors were only induced to come forward. It is not sufficient that these periodical shows should be deemed a success; that by strenuous efforts the managing committee should be enabled to pay their way. They ought to be a brilliant and unqualified success, something that will reflect honor on the the district and the colony. How to make them better than they have been should be the study of the directors. We believe these exhibitions are capable of great improvement and expansion—that a little more enterprise on the part of the managers, a little additional attention to and sympathy with the farming interest, and a slight display of self-abnegation on the part of the agricultural and pastoral rulers of these shows who are in the habit from year to year of carrying off the awards, would do much to give them a new and better lease of life. In vindication of the comments that we have made on more than one occasion when dealing with this subject, we may refer to some remarks made by Mr John Grigg, of Longbeach, who is a practical, farmer and grazier, and one of the best authorities on agricultural and pastoral matters to be found in New Zealand, Speaking at the dinner of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association Mr Grigg is re-

ported to have said :—“ He had not “ competed in many classes that day “ because he was afraid that it would, “ prevent small farmers entering their “ stock. In his opinion everything “ ought to be done to encourage the “ small farmers to compete at the “ Show. He had taken at one time “ nine-tenths of all the prizes offered “ in nearly all the Agricultural Shows ‘ in New Zealand, and he did not “think it--fair that any person “ should enter stock that would sweep “ the yard arid take all the prizes.” Mr Griggs’ example in this instance is worthy of all emulation. If the majority of those who take the lead at Agricultural and Pastoral Shows could only be induced to display the same amount of kindly consideration and self-restraint, these exhibitions would rapidly grow, in popularity. As shows are conducted can it be said that the small farmer is encouraged ? Take the leading classes of exhibits, and what do we find ? The competition confined to two or three large exhibitors who carry off the prizes amongst them at each successive show. Instead of giving way, or giving the small grazier a chance, they are invariably to the front with their magnificent pure breds luxuriating on'the sweets of the show season. One would imagine that in time they would become surfeited with medals and trophies, but their appetite for honors is something insatiable. It is becoming quite a common thing to read of entire stock carrying as credentials the accumulated prizes of half the Agricultural Shows in the colony. Now this kind of thing is manifestly unfair to the small farmer or grazier. Something in the way of preventing the same competitors swooping down like falcons on the awards from time to time, should be done. The classification of exhibits might also be improved. It is not because we believe that the stock of the colonies are apt to deteriorate, that we think imported and colonial bred animals should compete separately. Breeders, whose means will not enable them to pay absurd figures for imported animals, should be protected against the unfair competition of more wealthy owners, whose grand exhibits are the result of the intelligent management of others. We trust that when the prize list of the South Canterbury Show is next under revision some attention will be devoted to this phase of the subject, and that if deemed advisable, a material alteration will be made in the conditions, so that the desire, so well and tersely expressed by Mr Grigg, of Longbeacb, will be realised, and small farmers as well as large station owners will be induced to exhibit.