SHOWS' INFLUENCE'

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 139, 15 June 1938, Page 12

SHOWS' INFLUENCE'

PRIMARY PRODUCTS. j IMPROVING OF QUALITY. PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday. "In this country shows have come to be most important events, reflecting a« they do the close interdependence of town and country interests and serving more than most events to bring j these together," stated the Prime Min- i ister, Mr. Savage, in opening the National Dairy Show to-day. The primary object of these shows is to foster in every possible way the improvement of farm produce and practice. "In the dairy world there is no show of greater importance and value than this one," Mr. Savage continued. "Each year it is comin<* to have more and more significance. Its influence and the influence of other dairy shows on constantly improving the quality of our dairy produce is a matter of great moment to the industry and the economic welfare of the Dominion. "Constant improvement; in quality cannot be stressed too strongly or too often. One has only to consider the manner in which our competitors have leaped ahead in recent years, thanks mainly to the stress they have laid on up-to-date methods and equipment. If one considers also the marketing position and the ever-present possibilitv of restriction in some form the paramount importance of the quality of our produce will be all the more apparent. "The greatest factor in our economic development lias been the pastoral industry. Thanks to refrigeration, this country has developed a new type of farming characterised by dairying and fat lamb raising, and thanks mainly to the unremitting, intelligent work of three generations of farmers this has matured into a highly-specialised business conducted on intensive, scientific lines. "To-day New Zealand, in addition to being the world's greatest exporter of frozen mutton and lamb, is also the world s largest exporter of dairy produce,' Mr. Savage added. "The primarv producers' position and reputation can only lie maintained by constant care, and the Government will continue to lend every assistance in the economic development of the country."