Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1940. NEXT WEEK’S A. AND P. SHOW.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1940. NEXT WEEK’S A. AND P. SHOW.

OVER an extended period, the Masterton A. and P. Show has counted for a great deal, year by year, in the farming and general community life of the Wairarapa. In the conditions of war and crisis ndw ruling—conditions in which imperative demands are being made on the courage, energy and enterprise of all sections of our population—new emphasis is laid upon the practical value and importance of this annual fixture. Epitomising as it does the progress made in farming industry, the Show in any case would have been of special interest in this Centennial year of the .Dominion and that interest is deepened and intensified by the struggle in which New Zealand, in common with the rest of the Empire is now involved.

With over half a- century of progressive enterprise standing to its credit, the association is in the happy position of being able at each succeeding Show to offer impressive evidence of the forward strides that have been made in agricultural and. pastoral production. The annual fixture no;w accommodated so well in the spacious and beautiful grounds at Solway ranks not least amongst the aids and influences that have made possible a. wonderful development of land industry and it was never more necessary.than in these days that the most should be made of the Show as a means of stimulating and assisting further progress.

As may be seen from articles and reports published in our special Show issue today, the altogether exceptional and in some respects exceedingly onerous demands now made upon those engaged in farming industry are appreciated to the lull by the officials and other members of the A. and P. Association and not least by those of them who are serving on the District Council of Primary Production and are bringing their knowledge and experience to bear upon the contemporary problems of the industry in. which they are engaged.

Anyone reading these articles and reports will realise, if he did not know it already, that there are serious difficulties to be overcome in meeting the demand that is raised lor increased production from the land, as an essential and allimportant contribution to a full-powered national and Imperial war effort. As to the methods by which the problems involved are to be dealt with, there may be some differences of opinion, blit the general aim evidently must be to meet to the fullest practicable extent the demand for increased production, in one of the reports just mentioned, the president of the A. and P. Association (Mr Gordon Lee) discusses labour-shortage and other factors impeding an increase in production from the land, but maintains that:—

In this country we cannot afford to sit back and take matters easy when other parts of the Empire are actively engaged in increasing production. It is the duty of the Government to assist the farmer, notwithstanding that it may be against its declared policy of shorter hours and higher wages, because the wealth of iliis country is dependent on the land and it is of paramount importance that the land should be worked to the utmost of its capacity, particularly in times of war. without, restriction.

It. should at least be possible for all concerned to agree that New Zealand eamiot. .afford Io be content with anything less than a I'u 11-powered effort by its primary industries in a struggle in which its existence, with that, of the rest, of the Empire and its allies, is definitely at stake.

Vital questions of national policy are involved which need and evidently must receive the earnest attention of the Government and Parliament. Within the limits that are set by national policy, however, the most, must he made in these critical days of every opportunity to expand production from the land and in contributing to that all-important: achievement the annual Show of the, A. and P. Association and the activities that centre on it will serve, as in the past, an excellent purpose. In providing through the years a demonstration of what may be accomplished by progressive farming methods, the Show has pointed and opened the. way to an advancement of primary industry as a -'whole by 'which the community in general has benefited greatly.

It rests with the people of this district in town and country to ensure by a full measure of support, that the activities of the A. and P. Association shall be continued with unimpaired vigour and effect. Willi excellent entries of stock and other exhibits, representative displays touching high standards are promised. Subsidiary attractions, including entertainment; features of a popular kind, have not been neglected. At a lime when primary industry is called upon to make a tremendously important contribution to the national war effort, the Show at Solway on Tuesday and Wednesday next obviously has the strongest possible claims to liberal public support.