The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1916. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 20 July 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1916. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOWS.

\ With which 1a incorporated The Tal nape Post and Waiuianno .News.)

The Rangitikei Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Annual Winter Show, now being held, is an unqualified success, a something- achieved of which the Society’s Executive Officers have Gvery reason for feeling the utmost satisfaction. The sightseer passes around the various exhibits, comparing them with each other, and possibly with what he himself could, and does produce, but to many such exhibitions have a far deeper significance. It is true that the general visitor has net been educated to view these shows in the perspective they assuredly occupy in our district and national advancement. In looking through the prize list of these columns we can find the names of men and women who are truly loyal to that part of New Zealand in which they have made their home, and to the whole Dominion. The owners of those names are doing what any country expects of its occupiers of the land; they are doing their utmost to produce the best and most; they are giving their experience to all who care to take advantage of the opportunity, and they are exchanging their experiences with each other. We look down the prize lists, not only of the Winter Show, but also of the Summer Show, in vain for the names of many that should be in strongest evidence, because they own larger farms, or tracts of country, they are wealthier, and have made themselves rich off the land they occupy, and why they are so miserly as to hold aloof from that institution which came into existence to benefit the particular industry they are engaged in, and add to the earning capacity of the whole country is, indeed, not understandable. We have been told that there are men in this district who have acquired larger and larger holdings till they now do not even accord a stand-off patronage of the district’s agricultural shows. If there is anything so disgustingly unmannerly and stupid-minded in all our territory, and we cannot think there is, we would just like to mention that King Edward the seventh was one of the most enthusiastic exhibitors that ever competed in a British Agricultural Show. Our present King is also an enthusiast, though perhaps not to the extent his father was. King Edward would move about among small farmers as well as many big land-hold-

ers, discussing the merits of any particular beast or other exhibit that evoked more than his ordinary interest. The Government of this country are spending enormous sums of the taxpayers’ money in an endeavour to improve, with a view to securing greater and more profitable production, and to scotch outside competition, what are farmers, whose vocations are the special objects of this expenditure, doing?. Some are loyany and honourably assisting the efforts of the Agricultural Department, others are doing nothing, while others are a clog and a brake on their country’s efforts in their behalf. In most districts we pass down the avenues oi show pens and we find that on the various tickets the names of the very largest landowners preponderate. This is as it should be; it spurs the smaller men on to greater effort and success. At any show in the iWairarapa the names Beetham, Bidwill, Buchanan, Matthews and others have grown into an institution, a show never takes place from which those names or. the men themselves, are absent. Then a second crop came with the Yallances, the Whatmans, Merediths, Donalds, Allens and then a later lot of which the Wairarapa may well feel proud, and which includes the Perry’s of the Taratahi. We have the men here who could help their fellows who -have in late years taken up land, and also those who have only just hewn out the conditions for successful grazing; but too many of them view and criticise our exhibitions from a distance. We appeal to such men to give their assistance in the district’s efforts to increase production and profit. New Zealand must increase her output and keep up the quality of her exports if newer grazing countries are to be kept from dangerously impinging on her markets. Surely' it is realised that South American countries may constitute a menace to New Zealand’s best interests if we slacken production or lower the quality of our exports. It is not needful for us to remind our producers that those countries may, sooner than expected, at least, bring about a lowering of values, and this would be disastrous to this country, as only one or two per cent. may mean a loss of millions, a penny on wool, meat and butter most certainly would. To keep away the evil effects of extraneous competition, nothing can be. more successful than mutual effort, and it is this mutual desire and endeavour that will do more to ward off the competition, danger, aWd prevent a footing being secured in'the markets we now hold. Some there may' be who think they

would not be assisting towards such an end by’encouraging an exhibition where experiences are exchanged; iet us remind- 'them once more that the late King Edward did not think so; -he realised the value of agricultural exhibitions, and he onthusisatically threw his efforts into that work which he knew was for the Empire’s good and enrichment. It may be that he saw the value of example; we want our people to follow the example, and to do their part in keeping up, and increasing this country’s annual income by loyally supporting everything inculcated to that end. The relatives of the late Mrs Ivy Bird publish a letter of thanks to Joctozs McDiarmid and Sinclair, and Tie matron and nurses of the Euauui .rospiial, tor their kind and unremit- • ..... uon to Airs Bird while under their care. “The present Government cannot be called a Government at all,” said Councillor Anderson at the Petone Borough Council recently. “They are inept and a lot of messers, and it is only a waste of time approaching them for any redress, no matter how necessary it may be.”

A deputation from the Wellington Hospital Board and contributing bodies is to wait on the Minister for Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) at 10.30 a.m. on Friday next, to discuss with him the question of the hasis upon which the State pays subsidies to local bodies.

“It ha s amazed me to learn of the number of motor-cars that are sold annually in New Zealand and I expect many other persons will be amazed besides myself,” remarked the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court yesterday during the hearing of a case. To inform people that more money has been spent in the purchase of motorcars in (Wellington than on tramw aj equipment, you would probably not be believed, but such is the case.”

At the Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association’s meeting at Hawera, the following remit was carried; that the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders Association is cf the opinion that it is in the best interests of the breeders of all live stock that the live stock show in Palmerston North be a Royal Show; that the Manawatu A. and P. Association be approached, and, if found in favour of the proposal, that the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association .immediately approach other Breed Associations and the A. and P. Associations, asking their co operation, with a view to bringing the proposal to a successful isoue.

It is stated that a recent arrival into the world has been gWen the life-long appellation of Verdun Willochra.

The Taihape quota of the 19th Reinforcements is now complete, and any recruits registering now will not leave, till next months

A hrooch, amethyst, set with pearls, was lost in Taihape yesterday. The finder will be rewarded on returning it to Mrs (Dr.) Boyd, Huia Street.

Good business was done at the Winter Show yesterday by members of the Taihape Women’s Working Club, the sum of £lB being taken at the stall.

Good business was done by the Palmiste, Madame Bouvais, at the Winter Show yesterday, and it Is anticipated she will be well patronised this even-

Major Bernan, sent by the Government to Chatham Island to inspect likely- recruits, has returned. He said about 50 men would come forward. Their physique was good.

An art union cf sheep in aid of the funds of the Red Cross Society, is bein e organised locally, and already 7 400 rd.°ep have been promised by 7 various farmers.

It is foreshadowed that the Commonwealth Government will extend the powers of the Navy Department to prevent ships leaving Australia with empty cargo .space when freight is available.

All collieries in the Commonwealth affiliated with the Australasian Coal and Shale Smployees’ Federation have decided to stop work for the day on the 27th, in connection with the demand for an eight hour) day for all employees. i _

A lady’s black handbag, containing money and papers, that was lost last night between the Picture Theatre and the Sale Yards is advertised for. The finder will be rewarded on returning it to Mr D. Negle, saddler, Taihape.

A number of exhibitors at the A. and P. Show have donated their entries to the Taihape Women’s Working Club, and these goods will be auctioned in the hall to-night. It is anticipated that a good sum will be realised.

“Poster stamps,” in appearance very, much like a large postage stamp, have been prepared by the Railway Department" fbf the purpose of advertising the Dominion as a tourist resort. It is suggested that business firms should affix the stamps to the flaps of letters sent overseas.

At the Taihape Sale yesterday, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., sold ten Taihape Dairy Company shares for £39 14s Gd. These shares were sold on account of Mr R. T. Batley and the proceeds are to be handed in equal proportion to the Red Cross and Salvation Army. Mr Batley has kindly authorised the auctioneers to make the amount up to £4O, and hand £2O to each of theae institutions.

Dairymen throughout Taranaki report that never before has the late autumn and winter been kinder to their herds, which consequently are in splendid condition. Feed generally is plentiful, and stores of hay and ensilage have only been partly used. The dairying season will commence tnis year quite a fortnight earlier than last, which also was an early season, and with the high prices prevailing the outlook was never so cheerful.

The Beard of Agriculture has agreed to write to the Minister of Education

endorsing the proposal made by the Council of Agriculture that sections of land should be provided, where practicable, near the various high schools, for experimental purposes and that-a science master should be attached to such schools to supervise the agricultural education of the scholars, and to work in conjunction with the experts of the Department of Agriculture, on similar lines to those that ax*e being carried out at Ashburton High School.

The picture entertainment given by Mr A. C. Nicholls at his Three Stars Theatre, in aid of the Women’s .Working Club, was well patronised by the public, the theatre being quite full. A splendid programme was screened and all seemed perfectly satisfied with the .evening’s amusement. There wa» Up* (wards of £2O taken at the door, and there are some tickets yet to come in. Mr Nicholls gave the whole gross proceeds to the fund, paying the expenses, amounting to about £4, out of his own pocket, which means that Mr Nicholls made a handsome contribution to the Women's Working Club Fund.