The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1919. THE A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 September 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1919. THE A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

With which its incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino News-”

There is no more important, or de-] sirable organisation is t-his greatl farming territory than the Agricultural and ‘Pastoral Association. It is} in _reality the only opportunity given throughout the year for people to come together on any occasion, let‘ alone an occasion which is of absorb~ _ing'interest_ to every resident of this immense district. If an Agricultural and Pastoral Showbvis of "any assistance in this farming district of the Doniinionpit, is certainly needed in_a growing, extending farming community that must go onincreasing in numbe_r_s, and in operations of intensiveness that will be necessary to put this country on a pedestal of independence_ The war has landed this little community of the South Seas in heavy liabilities. These liabilities will have to be discharged, and, in the meantime, interest amounting to mil-; lions annually will have to be paid. The country, especially the farming community, is in full enjoyment of the result of the unprecedented and only temporary demand at fairly high .prices for its products. An unequal prosperity has been experienced whilel the borrowed money has been passing yinto circulation, but it is very obvious. rtheperiod of borrowing must come to ia close, and there must be a reliance ;on the efforts of New Zealand farmlers. More must ‘be produced, for if lpresent satisfactory conditions were to continue more production would be essential, but present high prices anrl ready demand will not continue forfi Ivery long and farmers must be the first lto suffer just as they were the first to i-benefit with the advent of the good] [time resulting from war demands. The fine weather of prosperity will continue ‘ for a while, but it will be disastrous to go on as though the rainy day had {been eliminated from God’s creation. Nothing that helps the farming in.'ius~ Ktry must be allowed to drop flag, or to‘ stagnate, least of all the various aulnual exhibitions of what the farmer‘ lhas to sell, which are also the only on iportunities given for comparing notes,l ‘and gaining full experience of what is being done on other farms inside andl outside the Taihapc territory. The annual meeting of the ‘Agricultural and }Pastoral Association, held on Saturday, was not lacking in interest and lenthusiasm. but there should have lbecn three times thirty members prelscnt. One of the most important subIjects discussed was a proposal to drop tthe Winter Show owing ‘to a net loss ‘of seine twelve pounds during the year, ‘which, ’of'course, could not all be debited against the Winter Show. Against a. debit balance of £66 there were assets in promised donations and unpaid subscriptions amounting to £54. Surely it is not assumed that men and members will not meet such obligations in which their very honour is involved. _The fullest consideration, we think, had not been given to the importance of holding a winter show. We contend that very much more attention will have to be given '6O V'clgl‘i' culture in this district than in the past. While prices are high for stock of all kinds farmers may possibly do well on a comparatively short fatten;ing season, but with less favourable conditions it will be imperative to lengthen. the topping off season ‘to its utmost limits, and this can only be accomplished, by supplementing the grazing season with crops that are only attainable by devoting a more ‘considerable attention to agriculture, in growing what is "termed winter feed. Cl-oppi_,ng_ is a necessity in getting all out offthe land that it is capable of r producing, 'and by an extension of

cropping the fattening season might be 1 lengthened by some two months, andi adverse seasons might have the sting‘ taken out of them_ It should be“ understood that the winter show helping forward the addition, or supplementation of what agriculture can do towards adding every day possible‘ to too short a fattening season. That great aid to farming, the Freezing Works, could be made hugely more profitable by an extension of the fattening season; and if there is no other good cause for continuing the Winter Show, the urgent need for doing more in the agricultural way, to augment what almost unaided nature does in‘ growing grass, furnishes sufficient! cause for more enthusiastic interest! being displayed in making the Winter Show what it really should be . We do not quite follow the suggestion that the Winter ‘Show is responsible for the small loss in last year-’s operations. We have not seen the list of names of those who are in aarrears with their subscriptions, or of those who have: not handed in the donations to tho! prize-list they promised, but both are! debts of honour men are not likely to view lightly. If the dilatory subscrib-I ers and donors are of the poultry section of the society. then there is good reason for advocating that a poultry association be formed to run a winter show in conjunction with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, but if the slackness of subscribers and donors is traceable to the farmer side of the Association, it is scarcely fair re‘ lop off the poultry people which publicly declares them to be the culprits. The loss is a paltry» amount, and xve feel sure that there are many who would readily contribute‘ towards it rather than wipe out the future goo-dl. the Winter Show should prove. No onel will deny that the five years of war had its effect upon the last year's. operations of the Society, but there are evidences of a return to a normal condition again; soldiers have return-I ed, and business generally everywhere! has felt the improvement their presence has_ brought about. However, if a strong Poultry Association can be formed, it seems that almost an ideal arrangement is possible.’ The two bodies could hold their’ respective an‘nual winter exhibitions on-the same ’day and in the same building, share-1 ling expenses that each benefit from,‘ while leaving pl'iZe~moncy disbursements and other separable expenses to be paid by the bodies ‘who are’ specially interested therein and receive all the benefits therefrom. Whatever eventuates it is obvious that the Winter Show will improve from a farmer’s standpoint, with the’ termination of the war; by the great volume of roading work that is being put into operation, and by the urgent need for every leffort to be strained in lengthening the season for producing fat stock. No doubt the General Committee, to w.'uo:n the Winter Show is relegated to be dealt with, will decide that it is too useful an institution to be allowed to drop in any retrograde movement. Last year it would have been surprising if expenses had not increased, but on such occasions it‘ is essential that iorganisation should be as complete as possible, enabling the utmost economy Ito be practiced. It might even be advisable to set up a special business committee to ensure economy in conKtributing to the fullest measure of SHCCOSS.