AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1917, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

SHOULD THEY BE SUSPENDED? OPINION OF COUNCIL. OF AGRICULTURE. The question of the advisability or otherwise of holding shov.-.s during war tnne is one that is exercising the minds of the committee.; and momiiers of associations, who held diyev.-e views on the question. At Saturday's meeting, of the Taranaki Agricultural Society a letter was received from tl:u Egmon't A. and P. Association covering a resolution to tile effect that the committee strongly resonimended to the general meeting the advisability' of abandoning the show during the war. At its last meeting the Taranaki committee discussed the matter and decided to carry 011 the show as usual, and that opinion is endorsed by the executive of Dominion Council of Agriculture, jvhich forwarded a lengthy communication, stating that after giving the matter careful consderation the necutive had come to the conclusion that as far as this country was concerned it would bo a great mistake to discontinue the holding of shows for even one year. Tb» executive was aware that societies were giving the matter serious consideration 011 iceount of their keen desire to do the right thing, to help in every possible way to win the war, and to set a good example to the general public in this respect. The advantages claimed through not holding shows were: (1) The time iiiat breeders of stud stock spend on getting up their show exhibits would be saved; (2) railway traffic taking people and exhibits to and from shows would 6c saved;, (3) the time people spend going to shows might, well be used in carrying 011 their usual occupations. Considering these points in rotation: As all breeders bad to spend a certain funount of time arid labor in getting up their stock for sale, t-nerc would not be a great saving in this point. The railway traffic in connection with shows was almost all local. The great bulk of people and stock only went to their own local show. The number going to more than one show was limited, and those who went to more than two or throe shows was very small. Very few townspeople travelled by trains to shows, the passenger traffic being almost entirely confined to country people going to the local town where the show is held, and they take the opportunity of transacting their business, thus saving at least another trip to town. The additional traffic therefore was largeij confined to fanners. Loss of time through people going to shows was practically confined to farmers' wives and families, and meant only the loss of one day, as the attendance on the first day was usually confined to officials, judge-' and owners. Townspeople attended or the afternoon of people's day, wliicii was usually the local half-holiday. The disadvantages, therefore, appear Co be completely outweighed by the advantages to tlie community. The Dominion was almost entirely an agricultural and pastoral community, and by far the greater proportion of its exports ivere made up of agricultural and pastoral products. Anything therefore that tended to their advantage was of benefit to the whole community. Shows were, in the opinion of the executive, the most Important means available of bringing agricultural and pastoral education down to the masses of the people. Country visitors displayed great interest in the exhibits, as it. was their one opportunity in the year of seeing and comparing exhibits the nearest approach to perfection the country could produce, and also the best that could be attained in che prEclice of their daily work. They also saw implements and tools and latest applieances of every kind that they use in their daily work and can compare the various makes better and quicker "than could be done by visiting the various makers' show rooms. Moreover the judges gave lectures and explained carious points of interest." There were very few country people who attend their local slkw without learning a great deal about their daily business. An agricultural college, like Lincoln College, could only educate a comparatively few students at a timo, and might be said to be educating a proportion of iur future agricultural and pastoral leaders, and it was through the liicdiiim of shows that the best practice of the.;e leaders was brought- before the mass of the people. At present there was no other means of education within the Dominion that could do the work equally as well. The executive considered that it would be just as reasonable to propose to close technical schools. If ever there was a time in the history of the Dominion when the best of education in every subject we had to deal with was wanted, that time was now, and to suspend tho, work of great educational organisations like tho A. and P. Associations would be against the test interests of the Dominion. Tho chairman said this coincided with their views, and he suggested that a reply should be forwarded to.ffawera stating that it was their intention at present to continue holding shows.— Carried.