HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10166, 16 February 1911, Page 5

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

VISIT TO MASTERTON SHOW. AN INTERESTIN SPEECH. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) officially commemorated the opening of the Solway Showgrounds at 12.30 p.m. yesterday, by planting a tree known as the Wcllingtonia gigantia, in an enclosure near the grandstand. The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd of people, and Hisr Excellency showed clearly that this was not the firstoccasion upon which he had planted a tree. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Governor and party ascended the band rotunda, when Mr .William Perry (President of the A. and P. Association) officially welcomed His Excellency to the grounds. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) also extended a cordial welcome on behalf of the citizens of Master ton. His Excellency, ,who was received with applause, thanked the President of the Association and His Worship the Mayor for their kindly greeting. This was, he said, the first occasion \ upon which he had officially visited Masterton. He was pleased that his. visit was in connection with"the. open- ; ing of the new The: show would for all time'be one '..of* the conspicuous institutions'', for which'tli.e people would look annually for the • gathering together of those engaged in the agricultural industry. He congratulated the Association on the fact that the entries for this year's show were a record for tae Association. This was an assurance ,that the field • for competition was enlarging, and the quality of the produce was improving in the district, and the industry was being extended" over a larger area. The Association stood in a vigorous and vital position. Over and above the regard to the exhibits; tlie farmers giving an op'-,-tb assemble manner. This was a••great advantage, recognised; by everybody to-day. His Excellency said he had had'opportunities of visiting during the last few months a ; great many places'in New Zealand. By close observation he had; been.able, to form severa limpressipns of the country,and its people. He had formed pleasing" and happy opinions of both. Evidence * had been presented before him of the great opportunities afforded the agricultural industry. The climate was good, and the soil responsive. He had seen great distress in the farming industry at Homeland the farmers were almost decided ihat it Wiild nev<?: j again he a means of livelihood, Wi tilings liad brightened up, and were now much more hopeful. Jue had noticed in his visits many things | that resembled; the Old Country.,: There were many features in regard to the country: and people "which were closei*' to the Motherland than those.,.. of any other part of the Empire. One difference was that iii England they depended ■ upon, theii*,:factofries and industrie,-i.whilst 2\Tew 'land they relied' mainly upon the products of'the field and agricultural industries. These were all run separately in New Zealand, while in England they were affiliated- underone' great organisation. He had not-iced-that in New Zealand science" j had enabled the people to determine the most economic product for their locality, and the most profitable way t© present it to the best ; advantage on the Home markets. It behoved the people <to walk along the path of science and- ; iskill, li he could wave a magic - wand he would produce for New Zealand a great benefactor who would provide a great centre of agriculture. He could not conceive a greater boon to the Dominion- than such a centre. He instanced the boon conferred, on Canada by McDonald, and on India and South Africa by other benefactors.; He had been'told with regard to New' Zealand butter;;: and cheese that it was greatly in demand at Home, and in some ..cases'' it was preferred to the Danish product, and - a very, large amount of wealth was being accrued to the Dominion by its exports. (Organisation was one, of those necessary things for success. Ireland rose from depression as a. result of organisation and co-operative methods. Cooperation had been commenced in New Zealand, and it was being practised at Home. His Excellency said he had come among the people with a desire to assist them with t-heir industries as far as possible. There were in New Zealand many isolated factories doing well in their own way, but they .would do better by being brought under a centre of organisation. No politicks whatever entered into the great organisation at Home, but all shades of political opinion were united in the great question of agricultural development. In conclusion His Excellency stated that he was glad to have the opportunity of speaking to the people of the district, and expressed the hope that he would have many subsequent opportunities of coming to Masterton.