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Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 840, 3 November 1877, Page 2

We cannot say we disagree with those members of the Assembly who, the other day, negatived the proposal to place the sum of £2,000 on the estimates as a vote m aid of agricultural and pastoral societies. The amount, after all, would go bub a little way divided amongst some fifteen or twenty societies, but that is not so much the question as whether it would do good so far as it went. We are very much incliued to think that it would not, and were the history of Provincially subsi dised Societies of this kind at hand it would not, we believe, be difficult to show that the result would be really prejudicial. This, at any rate, appears to have been the case m Otago, where the Provincial Couiicil° voted large sums to the funds of the local Agricultural Associaiion. Those who, previous to the bestowal of such subsidies 11 i-l freely subscribed to the funds drew back, and tlfe consequence was, that the Society was really less prosperous with than without _ the Government money. There is little doubt but that this generally would ho the case, and once dissever undertakings of this kind from popular fcelin°, and they go to the wall. It may, too, be said of Agricultural Associations generally, that they perform bu<j half .their proper functions,'that they are not neaily so useful as they should be, and have all the less right, therefore, to be allowed to dip their fingers into the colonial purse. Their work properly consists m. something more than "•etiing up an annual or biennial cattle show. Yet this seems to be the utmost that is generally aimed at We could understand that the aid of the Government might be fairly claimed, were the duties of these associations extended till they became, what they really should be, local schools of agriculture, and possibly associated with each othmthrough a central association, as m the United States. They would then perform a v ist public work, and be entitled to a large measure of •State support, for the State would receive a valuable quid pro quo for the aid afforded. Really, however, there is no need of such extraneous assistance. We think that Wuikato bias furnished evidence of this. In this district the real work of an Agricultural Association has been taken up by the Cambridge Farmers Club, which, commencing m a young district from small beginnings, has worked itself into a posicion of usefulness that 'no association fostered and emasculated by Government subsidies would ever be likely to attain. That association has been supported entirely by its members, and having shown itself worthy pf encouragement as the representative of the agricultural

and pastoral interests of the disfcrict, when it took upon itself that other ; work which associations, as we say, too often make the sole end of their existence, money and exhibits were forthcoming, and the most successful show ever held m Wjiikato — one which would, m all respec.s, have refiested creditably on a much older and more populated district than this, was carried through by Ihe Cambridge Farmers Club. We instance this as what may bo done even m young districts dissociated from Provincial centres, when the settlers are animated by a strong feeling of independence and determination to succeed, though if any association of this kind deserve support from the public money, it- is the one referred to. Ib has done more than expend its energies m g-etting 1 up a. cattle show one day and a ploughing 1 match oa another day. At its regular monthly meetings', important questions of agricultural concern are discussed, the legislation of the colony as regards matters generally affecting agriculture and stock keeping is watched and commentsd upon, experiences are exchanged, and valuable papers on farming read. This is the true work of an agricultural association, and when this is done thoroughly and well, public support will follow as a matter of course, and render such a vote as that poposed by Mr Kelly, and disallowed by the House, altogether unnecessary. That it is so m the preseut insiance is clear from the advertisement which appears elsewhere. The success ' attending- the late Show has determined the club to iepeat the experiment, and a second cabtle» show, under the auspices of the Cambridge Farmers Club, is to be held m November, 1878. Early notice has doubtless been given that intending exhibitors may be enabled to prepare their stook for it — a very necessary matter m the case ot young cattle and sheep.