THE FARMERS' CARNIVAL

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 292, 7 December 1923, Page 7

THE FARMERS' CARNIVAL

TOJFN AND COUNTRY MEET. -DAIRYMEN MAKE GOOD SHOWING. JUDGING DAY AT EPSOM.

They say that one half the world doesn't know how the other half lives, but even if that isn't true' it is very certain that many Aucklanders utterly fail on what the phenomenal prosperity of the province has been built. Townspeople as a rule are very much wrapped up in urban affairs, and even many intelligent business men are apt to lose eight of the real bedrock eource of our wealth, they very often cannot look beyond the secondary industries, and forge I that they are secondary and not primary. The man on the land carries New Zealand, and thotigh a lot more of us give him some assistance he is the key to the situation. Let butter and wool go down and the drop is felt from one end of the commercial machine to the other. The old cry about the rivalry between town and country is sheer nonsense; there can be no rivalry. There may be misunderstanding, and the sooner that is wiped out the .better for all of us.

In the past the farmer was more or less inarticulate, but of late he has found expression, and some people think he is getting a bit too clamorous about his rights, but that is only the reaction to long years of neglect. Townspeople can seize no better opportunity of getting into touch with the man on the land than mixing with him at the annual metropolitan show opened at the Campbell show ground, Epsom, to-day by His Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Jellicop) in one of those happy, witty and withal highly sympathetic speeches of his that gain him so many friends. He seems to have all the sailor's proverbial affection for country things, and there is certainly no one that has a keener sympathy with the farmer, or a keener appreciation of the strenuous times many of the settlers nave in the sparsely-settled areas of the Dominion.

As everyone knows who has followea the history of the Auckland shows for the past couple of decades they have accurately exemplified the chanpes that have come over the primary industries of New Zealand. To-day of course the pride of place is occupied by her ladyship the cow, and this year's penning is thoroughly representative of the resources of the district. Better accommodation will not be found on any siiow groiind, nnd the number of entries is a record. Fine as the show of cattle is, townspeople will realise the capabilities of the province whey they know that it has even better stock to show in some classes. Auckland's milking Shorthorns will compare with anything at the bie shows further South, and while the Friesians are representative of the district they are not of the same class as those of the Waikato. or Manawatu. Ayrshire* are a small class compared with other shows but the quality is quite up to previous years. Jerseys, while not up-to' Taranaki's best, are good and entries are satisfactory. In one direction the cattle entries are dis-. appointing, that is in pedigree beef. They are lamentably weak. It is true that there has been> a biff diversion to dairying but one should be able to do better than that.

In the horse section Auckland has always been noted and this year is no exception. In view of the fillip the wool market has received, sheep are exciting more interest, and though Auckland is essentially a dairying province there are some very fine pens of sheep qf excellent quality. Pigs are a strong section this year.

With the spacious grounds at its disposal the Association, with Mr. Ewen D. McLennan, the president, at its head, and an enthusiastic body of officers with Mr. A. D. Stanley as secretary, has set out the various sections attractively, and the large crowd that assemble on "Peoples' Day" will have ample room to circulate.

In addition to the agricultural section there is a fine dog show by the Auckland Kennel Club, and the Horticultural Society is holding its annual event in conjunction with the show.

Apart from what may be called the serious side of the show there is "all the fun of the fair" as usual, and gaily decorated tents house all manner of curious and gaudy objects from the fat man and the tallest horse down to penny whistles and real gold and enamel brooches for sixpence each. Merry-go-rounds and other amusements are announced from tent doors by raucous gentlemen in fancy costume.

To-day is mainly devoted to the work of the judges and to-morrow will be "Peoples' Day" for which a very fine programme of ring attractions has been arranged.