ON THE UTILITY OF AGRICULTURAL SHO

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 140, 8 April 1892, Page 2

ON THE UTILITY OF AGRICULTURAL SHO

Some time ago we called attention to the of establishing a good Agricultural Association in district, for the purpose of holding Shows at times and places, and for the furthering of any other for the benefit ©f those who are “on the land.” When we use the word “Agricultural” we wish to elude all that is connected iu any way with the farm garden, the homes of the settlers, articles of and would also include the work of our children iu day schools : we have a guide given us in the published by the several Associations now working It may seem strange to a visitor from the old but unfortunately it is true, we have to argue, and forcibly for the necessity of a Show at all. Although, the whole, the people of Neve Zealand compare with the other Colonies, in the proportion of populatiH engaged iu what may be called primary productive still it is too true that many of our young people, ai| some of our older folks too,look askance at°father Adam! trade. On this sawdust some strange agrmons have be (M preached in the good old swinging times. “ Only fool g-o the laud ” passed muster as being beyond contradil tion, and £ Cockatoo stood for poor fellow indeed.have not to travel far before we get some light t&rowJ on this strange state of affairs ; as a rule a man has been, able to earn more money in the form of weekly waves than he could hope to earn by the sale of the produce of bis labour from the garden or farm. It is true that in this case, as in some others, the tortoise sometimes did outrun the hare ; but to the ordinary “workingman” tne sight and feeling- ox the utu at the stated certain periods, was much to be preferred to the returns, uncertain, as he put it, every way, that come to the CockatpqE Hence it has come about that in some districts of our Colony certain industries have retarded land settlement. This subject could be followed very much farther, but we pause from going on in this direction now; at this time we wish to take it for granted that very many will have to “ drop down” to the ancient occupation. Let us bfl thankful that we have such a solid foundation to drorl upon. “ It is a remarkable coincidence that whilst we had have to suffer depression in our mining, timber and other industries, that the conditions in connection with the products of the soil have undergone a revolution for the better. Only a year or two ago the want of a market, and consequently of times the ruinous prices obtained, was killing to the producer. This change for the better, was graphically pointed out by a judge from Auckland, atone of our Northern Shows a few weeks ago; he' said that the secret lay in the great cargo steamers for England three fine boats in Auckland in one week, they must have out cargo or they will not come ; to o-et this out cargo they offer splendid facilities, and their csrainoalso told in favour of lower expenses on goods we have to import. In other words he said that the old tale of “no market” is gone for ever, all we have to do is produce good goods, and the quantity need not trouble us, the more the better.

If all this is true, then here we have a way out of ©ur troubles; like mosc other ways in this poor world we must expect it to have some bogs and prickles iu it; but as we hope to be permanent users we should try to «rade and metal it. As we have for so long a time despised the Cockatoo life we have taken small pains to prepare ourselves for it, hence the necessity of education, and we hold that an Agricultural Association with some good competitive Shows will help to educate us in our new callings. Supposing that our remarks should cause our leading spirits to take up this work we would urge that even nowi there is not much time to spare so that all the merits may be made for a Spring Show. ; As mont takes shape, it will be found that have to be settled long- before the Show haste caused through loss of time iu the be ruinous. The Auckland Provincial sociation seems to aspire to be the media cation between the several local date, etc : later it would be well to retary, meantime we have much to do oxu^H We are warned by some who have there is one rock we should give a several ventures that started fairly wrecked on it. On the day of the Show, evening, it must be the Show, the whole thing but the Show : as the President of one ern associations would p>ut it. “ There must be neous attractions,” no concert nor dancing to call ofiH peoples’ minds from the work in hand. "From stark ■ finish, from the commencement to the production exhibits, to the submitting them to the critical ey4 the judges at tlie Show, and further—and of equal portanee —to the dying away of the last word judge’s orations in the evening, the whole aim “ education.' 5 Some folxs have tried to entertainment part of the question by introdu between each of the judge’s speeches ; but likejflH stimulants this one has to be taken in strict or total abstinence will be the only remedy. that if arrangements are made early, there is difficulty in getting ready competent judges fM H ance to act in the several classes : they only travelling expenses to be paid, and even in the companies are willing to gai.it facilities. We are now looking forward to the tomorrow evening at Arapohue to take move in this important matter.