IDEAS FOR AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 8

IDEAS FOR AUCKLAND.

SHOW OFFICIALS RETURN.

NINE BIG DAYS IN SYDNEY.

CATTLE AND HORSES COMPARED.

"I can see no reason why Auckland should not have the premier agricultural and pastoral show in the Dominion." said the secretary of the Auckland A. and P. Association (Mr. W. F. O'Donnell i on returning from Sydney the Marama this morning together with JJr. J. Findlay, secretary of the Auckland Industrial Association and manager of the winter show. "We went over to pick up ideas which may be helpfui in Auckland," Mr. Findlay added, "and although we gathered a lot of useful information we did not see many improvements on local conditions." The visitors were everywhere received with the greatest of courtesy.

Both agreed that they had been most impressed by the great organisation which exists for the running of the Royal Agricultural Show in Sydney. The show extended over a period of nine days and finished as strongly as it commenced. They said that each day's programme was arranged with an eye to the benefit of the spectators and the time-table was adhered to from first thing in the morning up to the last event in the evening, sometimes until 10 o'clock at night.

"The outstanding feature of the programme," added Mr. O'Donnell, "was the daily parade of stock and the trotting and jumping events. We consider that the numbers and quality of the horses at the show are due solely to the generous manner in which the business people of Sydney come forward with special prizes. W<j noted that there were several prizes of £100 each in the horse events. We were thrilled by the trotting and high jumping, by the performances of the lady riders as well as by those of the men." Steeplechase Type Preferred. In horses, the officials remarked, the Australians go in more for the fast racing or steeplechase type and they certainly produce a fine class of animal. Ihe draught horses at the show were disappointing and did not come up to the best that New Zealand can provide. "As for the ring events," remarked Mr. O'Donnell, "the organisation was simply wonderful. Ido not think I was hilf-an-hour away from the ring in the whole of the nine davs."

Discussing the quality of the stock at the show the officials from Auckland said that the Shorthorns and the Ayrshires were especially good. The former, they thought, were easily the best class in the show. "They have developed along two lines," said Mr. O'Donnell, "the Illawarra and the Milking Shorthorns. The Dlawarra is a cross between the Ayrshire and the Milking Shorthorn, the fixation of colour being obtained by the use of the Red Devon. This breed seems to be particularly adaptable to the variety of climates in Australia. Hitherto these breeds have been shown separately, but after a conference it was decided to amalgamate, and rightly so because the .. la warms are to be found in both classes. UTiat name the breed will eventually take has yet to be determined." As for the Jerseys and Friesians, the visitors thought that in the main thev did not come up t 9 the New Zealand standard. A number of Guernseys were t, " Wn '^, breed little known in this coun? try. They are of .two types, the law* heavy-boned animal and: the smS lighter-framed animal. This breed is forging ahead rapidly in Australia. The tat cattle were a revelation to the the quality "* ***** the Bumbe " "» d Asked what possibilities he saw in iedtT ;" A " ckland > Mr - O'Donnell replied that if a standard equal to that attained in Sydney (allowing for the difference m population) were to be leached the people would need to take* heir show more seriously. "I should added ' 866 thG bU3iness People," S added, give very much more support in patronage and stand behind us finan" a y so that we may make the show tii greatest of i„ '