The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1913. OUR SHOW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 79, 3 December 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1913. OUR SHOW.

I Stratford's Fourth Annual A. and P. Show opened to-day with a splendid exhibition of stock from all parts of Taranaki and from many places outside tin 1 province. It is, from many standpoints, a line illustration of! what can be done in the way of good farming and cattle-breeding by earn-J est men who love their calling, and this anyone may see. But it is only those, most intimately connected with the; land who are able to properly realise] to what extent the Dairying ami Ag- 1 rieidtural industries of the Dominion have sprung into prominence in recent years, and how in the value of their total exports these two industries' alone quite out-shine all the others put together. It. has been very well saiu, that past Governments have not paid attention to the Agricultural Depart-j jne.'it commensurate with the import-' uncfi "f the work which it might do, 1 and as taken in relation to the subsidies granted to mining and other k'pai'tmont.s. In H)l2 our exports of the products of the farm from New Zealand amounted to no less than t17.J1;)1,-l 11 " s againsi a total of L"3,1.NI).()()[), as .the grand total from 'orests, fisheries, mines and inanufacures of this country. During the k l -! twenty years, while the value of ho exports from the mines of New' lea In ml has only increased from one uilliou to £1,(500,000, the exports of vool have shown an increase of from ;M,771,73S to £7.105,483. Hides, (.ins, tallow, etc. (an important mater '.,' Taranaki 1 ), shew an increase of row to £1,823,-toßy while the ,

value of the exports of frozen neat has increased from £l,l-14,520 to £4,053,759, and butter and cheese from £354.271 to £3.709,202. ?!ive stock also shows a decided increase in the value of exports of from £.'52,039 to £114,011, while grain, potatoes, seeds.; etc., have increased from £710,510 to, £1,000,005. It is to help foster and! assist these great industries, which! are the backbone of New Zealand's: prosperity that such exhibitions as| the Stratford A. and I'. Association are held. They bring the rartner into closer contact with his brother farmer: they enable him to see what is being clone and to compare his farming methods and his stock with the methods and the stock of his neighbour. At such gatherings also he is often ahh to learn what experience lias taught to be tho bet ten- method in obtaining tho highest return. The exhibition which opened in Stratford to-day i> a splendid one, and even weather vagaries cannot destroy its usefulness. it the sunshine which we hope for will only come to-morrow, there will be tin biggest crowd of visitors on the A. and .P. Association's well-appointed and picturesque grounds that Stratforo has ever seen.