The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1919. YESTERDAY’S SHOW.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 February 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1919. YESTERDAY’S SHOW.

(With Which is incorporated The Taihape Poet end Walemnao News).

The Eangitikoi Agricultural arid Pastoral Show, held In Taihape yesterday was completely successful. It contributed to the accumulating evidence that Tjaihape is destined to become a groat centre to one of the Sargest and richest -producing districts in the whole Dominion. Wherever one looked there were indications of prosperity; it is estimated that at the least there were motor cars present which, at an average value of three hundred pound each, would be worth fifty thousand pounds. One only needs to spend a few minutes in thought and calculation to realise the enormous aggregate value of the stock and property that had been brought together for the 1919 Show of the 'Agricultural and Patoral Society. The farming community are more and more realising the value such shows are to them; a reputation for highest class stock in any territory increasecs that territory’s stock value incalculably without increasing the number of animals. This striving to produce the most without increase in the cost of production is the 'basic, principle of all economic science; it is what (the world’s economists are urging, and striving for. It is very questionable whether the sheep and cattle pens at any previous show held anything like the value in stock that were penned in them yesterday. We are assured by a leading breeder that the number of Romney sheep at Taihape was greater than were, shown at the recent Masterton Show, and ther should be every, effort made to keep up such conditions, for every breeder benefits by whatever increase of reputation is achieved. The quality of the stock was never so good, a higher standard is being set and some very fine sheep that would easily have taken prizes in former times were pushed back purely by the improvement, lof quality shown by the most 'progressive These remarks also apply to cattle exhibits a higher standard is being set, and it will very soon change the appearance of herds generally and tend to increase the marketable value of very beast that finds its way to the freezing works. One may not quite understand what a benefactor he is to his country by making two blades of grass to grow where one was wont, but he never fails to grip a full sense of the advantage of growing an extra pound of wool and a fine carcase of mutton on the pasture that would be required to feed the veriest reject, and this is what renders the annual Argicultural and Pastoral Show of pre-eminent importance and value to the whole district. It is encouragement and help in acquiring and producing only the best; as the quality of the district’s stock is increaed so does the spending power of its settlers inCreae. In stockbreeding it is quality, not numbers, that is the vital desideratum. In other words improvement of flocks to the highest standard of practical production is a form of intensive farming that cannot be too strongly encouraged. Although the quality and quantity of stock exhibited yesterday indicated v'sfst improvement, there were many farmers Possessing high grade animals that might and would have figured in the prize list had they entered them for competition* The owners of this kept-at-horac stock were, nevertheless, very eager in their criticisms of the animals that were exhibitd. indicating that they were developing in themselves the innate ambition to excel up to the show non prent. One can never approximately estimate the value of the

Annual Show to this district, but could that be accomplished we know 'the figures 'would have a startling effect. Workers in town shops and offices do not realise that by scientific conduct of his breeding, a farmer may double the value of what he depastures without increasing.it by a single animal, and that if all farmers can be helped and encouraged to adopt scientific methods of getting the most off his land for the same expenditure of his time and labour, the earnings of the district are doubled. Business men are either indifferent, or do not realise the importance of the Agricultural and Pastoral Show in its connection with their business, j or they would make some effort to use 1 the occasion for their own benefit. It, is the greatest gathering of the land community of the year, and it is unbelievable that the business people of the town have nothing to exhibit at the Show that would interest them, and lead on to a closer business relationhip between town and country- This Annual Show should be as much a- business man’s day as j a farmers’ and stock-breeders’ day. ! Motor car firms exhibited their j wares on the showground with the j result that a few men from the land got the cars they desired and a few j thousands of pounds passed into the j banking accounts of the men in the town. It was pleasing to see that Messrs Abraham and Williams had a comprehensive exhibit of farm seeds and other farm requirements, and hO doubt many farmers practically appreciated that firm’s efforts and the firm doubtlessly made new connections. Show day should be a day of business to farmers and to business men; if town business houses can | afford to disregard such an unsurpas- i sable opportunity to bring their mer- } ehandise or manufactures under the | notice of farmers, they are doing too well, or they have a very p'dor sense of the. value of advertising and busyness enterpise. Years ago, when ■times were much harder, business men j did not neglect such splendid chances the result being an exhibition that provided something to attract every taste. On this occasion the fanners have excelled all previous exhibitions and if every exhibitor does not experience direct results he must reap j collective benefits and advantages. The fanning community is to he congratulated on the display of the land’s products they made, and such | an exhibition as that made by Mr. A. R. Fannin of purebred Romney sheep would occupy a creditable position in any show in the Dominion.