RECORDS SMASHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 124, 28 May 1929, Page 9

RECORDS SMASHED.

WAIKATO'S GREATEST SHOW. OPENED THIS AFTERNOON. HUGE THRONG OF PEOPLE. WORLD'S BIGGEST DAIRY EXHIBIT. i SPIRIT OF VENTURE JUSTIFIED. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") HAMILTON, this day. Waikato's greatest winter exhibition was opened this afternoon by the Hon. 3, G. Cobbe, Minister of Industries and Commerce, before a huge throng of people. All previous records have been 'smashed in every section, and the exhibits this year outnumber by hundreds those of any previous show. For many years those responsible for building up the dairy exhibits have been working in the right direction, and the 1929 exhibition crowns their efforts, with the result that now the Waikato winter show can justly claim to be the greatest of its kind in the world. Never before ■in history has such a display been brought under one roof, or series of roofs, covering two and a-half acres of space, and containing close on three miles of; avenues of industry. Little did the members of that small committee which met 23 years ago realise that in that short space of time such an achievement •would be made. Aims and Objects. ' To educate the public, to encourage production —both primary and secondary—and to assist the Auckland province generally, is the aim and object of the Waikato winter exhibition. This is -what the association, when it first entered upon what then was a very doubtful, but very ambitious undertaking, set out to do. And to ascertain whether it ias accomplished its object one need only pay a visit to the 1929 exhibition. Since the show started in 1906 it has never looked back, while the Auckland province, and the Waikato in particular, have continued to advance until they are the niost talkcd-of districts in the Dominion. So great has its productiveness become that more dairy produce is now exported from Auckland than from any other part of New Zealand. So, too, has their secondary products come into their own, and the 23rd winter exhibition amply proves this to be a fact. To-day the show spirit is abroad in the South Auckland province. It manifests itself art countless ways. There is good reason W hv it should. For to-day is no ordinary day in the history of the Waikato Winter Show Association—all recqrds, great as they have been m the :past, have been shattered. Greatest in the World. ■ Punctually at 2 p.m. the choir of over 100 voices sang "An Ode of 67 years ago," originally sung at the opening of 'the International Exhibition in 1862, and composed by Tennyson:— krtift a-thousand voices full ami sweet, In this wide hall with earth's invention An/pSe the invisible universall Lord, Who lets once more in weace the nations TVherTlcience, art and labour have outTheir myriad horns of plenty at our feet. That was the spirit manifest when the president (Mr. A. K. Alexander rose and said: "It is my privilege and pleasure this afternoon to introduce you to our twentv-third exhibition, and to hid you welcome to it. Those of Jβ who have watched the show grow, and who have supported it by our attendance for many years past, take pardonable pride in the success, it has mec with, and the fame it has won throughout the Dominion, and, in fact, further afield. We take pride in the growth it has made from tiny beginnings to tlie present magnificence that you see around -you. I am particularly proud to be able to tell vou that this year's show opens under conditions which promise the : most brilliant success in its history. Our entries have established a new record. The exhibit in the dairy division, which has ever been the leading ■'section o! our short, is the finest in our career. None of the great dairy shows of the world, nor. of the wonderful .exhibitions in America, no other display under the Southern Cross, can compare with the splendid aggregation of butter and cheese to bo found within these walls this afternoon. It is magnificent in quantity, magnificent in quality, and, we can say truly this year magnificent in arrangement. _ We have triumphantly vindicated our right -o the title, 'the greatest dairy show on earth.'" Like the Queen of Sheba. After describing the various special courts, and making particular reference to the Government exhibits and district courts, Mr. Alexander said: "On behall of our association I would like tc extend a welcome to the Minister o Industries and Commerce. We regret that the Prime Minister did not set his way to pay us a visit on this occa sion, and we" hope that in convoying those regrets you will remind him pi the continued existence of tins district which has not been honoured with mi presence for nearly 20 years. In* Winter Show Association had then beer in existence for a very few years. Ilu Waikato only a few years before tJiai had been impoverished, and I migln even say poverty stricken. From tn« establishment of the Waikato Wintei Show, dates the prosperity of the Wai Icato district. I do not say there have heen no other reasons for the develop raent of .the Waikato; but I do assert that this show has played a large pari in making Waikato prosperous, and" building up the dairy industry of tft< Dominion. "We feel that the Minister, afte ■ inspecting the show, will go back t< Wellington with the same story as til' Queen of Sheba when she returned Iron the Court of King Solomon, 'The hal of it had not been told me'—and. tm in spite of our extensive advertißinj the president concluded. The Show Unique. "It will be interesting to you to taun that this vast show is unique in that j is a community effort. It belongs tc is organised and is supported by an nw monious combination of public spirite farmers and business men, said. ti Mayor (Mr. J. R. Fow), when bxddin &h§ Minister-and all -^^m-fSfifSm^

There were three main features of this year's show—the dairy division, which was the greatest show on earth, the display of root crops and the district courts. Those alone were worth while, said Mr. Fow. They spoke eloquently of the fertility of the once despised Waikato, and the industry and zeal of the exhibitors. The Minister of Industries and Commerce would no doubt be glad to discover that whilst the primary products ranked first in importance, other fields, such as industries and education, had not been neglected. There was a comprehensive effort to encourage skill, enterprise, thrift and industry. The success of the past 23 years indicated that the educational valuo of those competitions had been well recognised. Healthy rivalry and comparison tended to the production of the highest quality. Improvements in method and quality assured a better prospect of adequate return for forethought and labour. The knowledge that one shall enjoy the fruits of his toil constituted the very honey of life all the world over.

And The End is Not Yet. Mr. Fow said they attached much importance to the Minister's presence at the show to-day, and it was hoped that the Government's representative would perceive the wonderful potentialities of this favoured district. "However impressive to-day's display may be, however much we have pvogressed, we know and realise that we have scarcely touched the fringe of our ultimate development," Mr. Fow declared. "There is yet much land to be possessed. There are large tracts of undeveloped land and rich swamp lands which, under the fostering regard of a sympathetic, Government, would carry and provide for a contented and prosperous people, who in their turn would create increased production and help to build up more and more a substantial yeomanry —a type of settler that is essential'to the welfare of the whole Dominion." Men Who Dreamed Dreams. "I have to thank the Waikato Winter Show committee for the compliment they have paid me in inviting me to come here and officially open what is considered by many to be the largest, ths best-appointed and most important winter show and exhibition in New Zealand," said the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, in the course of his remarks. "I had the pleasure a few days ago of looking through your show schedule and prize list, and I came to the conclusion that if your show is up to the standard of your schedule then it must be an outstanding display."

Mr. Cobbe then went on to say that it was difficult for one visiting the show for the first time to give full expression to one's opinion of the wonderful display seen on every side. It should be a source of great satisfaction to all members of the committee and especially to those elder members, tVo of whom he had noticed had been members of the executive for 23 years (Messrs. W. Roth well and T. J. Mitchell), to witness the result of their hard work and foresight. Those old members were certainly men who "dreamed dreams, had visions and have seen them come true." He noticed particularly that the dairy factory entries, which numbered 981 for the present show, were a world's record. This was something extraordinary, something to be proud of. The exhibition of roots was a revelation to one who thought that his own district almost "licked creation" in root-growing. The horticulture, fruit and honey sections were also revelations. Blossomed as the Rose. "When one visits the home industries, or cookery section, one is reminded of the old saying that the way to keep a man in a good humour is to feed the brute," Mr. Cobbe continued. "And judging by the number of entries and the- high quality of the cookery exhibits to be seen, one can only come to the conclusion that the men of the Waikato must all be good-humoured, because with cookery such as we see here no man can have any excuse for being ill-tempered. "It is pleasant to notice how fully "the children's section has been catered for, and it is gratifying to see such a number of exhibits of such marked [ excellence."

There were few districts in New Zealand that had made greater progress than the Waikato, Mr. Forbes said. He remembered riding through it many years ago, soon after his arrival in the Dominion. And when he looked back and remembered the appearance of the country then, raid compared it with its appearance and productiveness to-day, ho could not help saying that the men who settled the Waikato had made the country ''rejoice and blossom as the rose." Incentive to Climb Higher. "The pioneers who settled in the Waikato thirty or forty years ago must regard this show with satisfaction and pride," the Minister continued, "because it is a veritable and outstanding proof of the wonderful progress made by the district. It is also evidence of the grit, determination and hard work of those early settlers. A combined winter show and exhibition, such as you are holding, is not only of great public interest, but it also has a high educative value. It provokes competition, and competition in industry, other than primary or secondary, must lead to improvement. And each step upward is an incentive to climb still higher and do better. The Waikato is known all over the Dominion for its outstanding position as a dairying centre. But notwithstanding its great reputation in that field, it is not satisfied with that reputation alone, and to-day's exhibition is an evidence that it also excels in other directions. The exhibits seen here today are evidence of the skill, the taste and the industry of the people." Mr. Cobbe then proceeded to give the Dominion's latest export trade figures (published elsewhere in this issue). He also touched on closer settlement and more intensive cultivation on smaller areas. Pointing to Better Times. "The example shown by the Waikato may point out the way to better times, increased production and greater prosperity for the whole Dominion," the Minister said in conclusion. "I have to heartily congratulate you upon your wonderfully successful show and exhibition and now have pleasure in declaring 1 it open." Prime Minister's Regrets. Mr. Cobbe apologised for the absence of' the Prime Minister, who had authorised him to say how sorry he was that he could not be present. It was purely on account of his having to attend to'important matters. He wished the exhibition every success, and hoped in the near future to pay a visit to Hamilton and Waikato. Subsequently the Ministerial party were escorted round the exhibition by Mr A. K. Alexander, president, Mr. Wra. Paul, secretary, and the exer-'tive of the Waikato Winter. Si '.