The Southland Times. INVERCARGILL: FRIDAY, DEC. 5, 1873.

Southland Times, Issue 1827, 5 December 1873, Page 2

The Southland Times. INVERCARGILL: FRIDAY, DEC. 5, 1873.

At the exhibition of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association for 1872, the opinion was somewhat freely expressed that interest in the Society's operations was declining, and that a marked inferiority, both in the character of the exhibits and in the attendance, was noticeable in comparison with previous shows. We bare reason to believe that this comment was not made with any sinister or unfriendly intent, and in reference to the late show especially, assuming that any inferiority between it and its predecessors were actually proved, such inferiority could be easily accounted for on other grounds than that of declining interest in the operations of the Society. We now advert to the subject, believing that a little friendly warning may be useful both to probable and possible exhibitors, as well aa to those whose special interest it is to watch the march of progress in the line of industry to which they have devoted themselves. The value of agricultural and pastoral associations is now very generally admitted, and the district which either from imagined poverty of resources or from local circumstances, ia unable or unwilling to set on foot an annual competitive gathering, must, from the consequent want of stimulus, necessarily remain long in the background. It is perfectly legitimate for us to take credit for the Southland Association for the success which its prize-takers have achieved upon other fields of competition, because although such success is without doubt due to the enterprise and energy, combined with the skill and management of the prize-takers, yet there are fair grounds for assuming that these qualities would either have remained dormant, or continued to be exercised for a long time without good practical result, bad there been no local association to recognise them, and primarily to give an official stamp to their results. The character of superiority which the long-woolled sheep of Southland have attained, as well as the success of individual breeders and j exhibitors, are reasonably to be attributed to the operations of the Society. In this particular department the Messrs Sutton Brothers, of Southland fame, have specially distinguished themselves at the Metropolitan Exhibition held at Christchurch last month, carrying off in class 17, long-woolled sheep — Lincoln breed — the second prize, the exhibit tak ing third prize being a ram imported from England direct. In class 18 the same breeders, among thirty- three ex-, hibits, succeeded in taking each of the three prizes awarded, and at the Bale which succeeded the show the whole of the stock offered by those gentlemen realised highly satisfactory prices. The Lyttelton Times, in referring to this show, says of Lincolns — " There was a splendid display. In class 17 there were no lens than thirty-one entries, and the competition was exceedingly keen. . . In class 18 there were thirty-two exhibits. . . . Stjtton Brothers, of Southland, received all the three prizes. . . . The exhibits in the class were all above the average." We have no doubt whatever but that Messrs Sutton Brothers, in reviewing their own success, will cheerfully accord to the Southland Society the credit of having been to a considerable extent instrumental in inducing it, and doubtless there are many others who have received benefit from the competition excited here, although perhaps not to the same extent. There is a source of benefit, necessarily derived from the Agricultural and Pastoral Association of which all producers must more or less partake, and that is the certain improvement in breed and produce effected by competition. To extract from the Society's operations the greatest possible amount of good, requires co-operation in the fullest extent, and while we hold that in a spirit of honest emulation every producer should to bis utmost strive to be worthy of a prize, yet the mere question of the probability of taking such, should not be the only consideration in inducing exhibition, but rather by the multiplication of exhibits of a character at least above the average, to excite a more healthy competition. In both departments the Association claims, and is entitled to, all the support which producers can possibly render it. Agriculture must be regarded as a commercial speculation, as it really is, and the duty of agricultural societies is to educate farmers up to their work, and just aa \ agriculture progresses the character of pastoral exhibits will improve, and the j perfection of machinery be the more nearly realised. The outside public has also its duty in connection with these associations, which unfortunately up- to

the present has not been sufficiently recognised. Beyond the payment of the small sum charged for admission to the grounds on the day of the show (and in very many instances the interest in the undertaking does not extend thus far), a very large number who are able to render material assistance contribute nothing to the Society, apparently forgetting that the success of the agricultural and pastoral interests is in reality the "success of the Colony, and especially of the district. The Metropolitan Association of Chrietchurch having been in debt for the purchase of grounds and other matters to the extent of about £1,800, has very properly made a special j effort and appeal to the public, resulting lin the extinction of the debt, and enabling the Society to extend its operations. The Southland Association has done well, and is doing well, with the means at its command, but the basis of its operations needs to be enlarged, and inducements offered to secure exhibits from neighboring provinces, any merely local exhibition being specially liable to contract itself year by year from the want of rivalry. No valid reason whatever exists that the Southland show should not take such a prominence as to make its awards of value in the remote districts and provinces, if not in the* neighboring colonies ; yet the apathy or want of support, either by producers or the public, may prevent or retard its taking such a position. Having for the combination of the two pursuits — yet one interest— of agricultural and pastoral occupations, the possession of natural advantages in our favor, the adaptation of the country to either, as well as the presence of men intelligently following one or both of them, it is not assuming too much to say that within ourselves we have the elements of success in a high degree. Agriculture has emerged from the position of depression which for a time stagnated the energies of our settlers, and the prospect of a good return which is now before them renders it specially necessary that the utmost advantage should be taken of agricultural skill, and the use of laborsaving appliances, in order to realise it to its fullest extent. We might say much upon the local benefits derived from the Society, but we have preferred to deal with the subject on the broad question of its general utility and advantage, and on these grounds commend the Association as thoroughly identified with the true progress of the district and of the Colony, and as in the ' highest degree entitled to general support.