The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1911. THE WINTER SHOW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 326, 13 June 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1911. THE WINTER SHOW.

The Agricultural Society are to be heartily congratulated on the success of their second winter show. It was a marked success in every respect, save one, and that they had no control over. We allude to the particularly unfavorable weather encountered, which must have materially affected the attendance, surprisingly good as it was in the circumstances. The show was a tremendous advance on the first effort, and a credit to exhibitors and the Society alike. It was a great advertisement for the district and- an eye-opener to most. The most interesting feature was the produce displays. Such an interesting collection has probably never before been shown in the province. To this result the farmers of ,Bell Block and Waitara West, by their magnificent district displays, largely contributed, and it is not surprising that the officials of the Society have already determined to try and extend the competition next year by interesting other districts and offering more substantial prizes. If the Society are successful in this, and we have no doubt they will be, the success of the next show will be assured. What Waitara West and Bell Block can do in exhibiting the produce coming off their land, TJrenui, Tikorangi, Mangorel, Frankley and Carrington Roads and the coastal districts should be able to do equally as well. A spirit of emulation and rivalry, thus engendered, cannot be other than beneficial. The feature is a splendid one, and we hope it will be encouraged in every way. We might suggest, in this connection, that provision in future be made for individual displays, as well as collective rural displays, that form no unattractive or small part of winter shows in other parts. In a northern show recently, a man who had for=aken the life of a commercial traveller for the more congenial vocation of a farmer but four years ago, exhibited from his hundred and fifty acres no less than two hundred articles of produce, and a local gentleman who saw it admitted it was among the most interesting collections lie had ever seen. There are numerous farmers in this prolific district of ours who could make very creditable shows of their own, and we hope an effort will be made to induce them to come forward next year. With the district exhibits enlarged, and other features added, it is certain the present makeshift accommodation will be inadequate, and the question of housing the next show is one that has to be faced right away: and this, we arc glad to see. the Society are doing. The Society have their St. flermain Square reserve. Half of this has now been leased for building purposes, and while the other, amounting to nearly an acre, would he sufficient for the erection of the necessary buildings, the site is not central enough, and an effort should be made to lease nr buy a place nearer the centre of the town, and erect a suitable building. The Society probably would be unable by themselves to finance such a scheme, but wo feel sure that they could rely on a cansiderable i

measure of help from the public. 11awera is only half the size of New Plymouth, yet no difficulty was experienced there last year in financing one of the most ambitious shows a country town ever undertook. The people there had abundant faith in themselves, in their district and in the success of their venture, arid we all know how that faith was and is being amply rewarded. The present New Plymouth buildings are inconvenient, entailing much hard work for the stewards and committee, and the results, gratifying as they have been, in spite of -the most adverse weather conditions, are not commensurate with the worry and labor entailed. Besides, there is the expense of erecting the annexe, which must represent a dead loss of at least £SO a year. The Society will' receive £4B annually from the sections they have leased, and with the other £SO saved we have the interest on nearly £2OOO, which sum would go a long way towards erecting a commodious building. The Society realise the need for a new and permanent building, and no doubt they will bring down a practicable scheme at an early date. The matter may then be further considered. The Society are acting wisely in inviting suggestions for the improvement of next year's show. We would suggest that the show be opened on King's Birthday in future. That date is practically clear in Taranaki at present. A better form of Schedule is required. It should be in book form. The show might be "boosted" outside more, and we would suggest the setting up of a live, efficient and experienced advertising committee. Perhaps school gardens competitions, on lines of the present district competition, could be arranged. The school exhibits could be better placed, and should be in the day before the show, and judged before being stngeG. Some scheme might be evolved whereby better competition in the dairy produce classes (which were a great disappointment at last week's show) could be ensured. Working exhibits of an educational nature could with advantage be encouraged, say, by offering free space. We have already alluded to the advisability of encouraging the district shows.

These would make any show, and every inducement should bs offered, starting with a subsidy to every exhibit scoring, say, half the maximum points. These suggestions occur to ns as we write, and there are doubtless many more lhat will be forwarded to the Society. The winter show can now be looked upon as an established institution, thanks in no small degree xo the enthusiasm and untiring efforts of the president (Mr. "Walter Ambnry), backed up by a willing and hard-working secretary and executive, who are deserving of all the encouragement town and country can give.