THE TIME FOR SHOWS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5593, 23 December 1910, Page 4

THE TIME FOR SHOWS

AUTUMN OR SPRING ?

A North Taranaki farmer, when ronversing with a Dominion representative recently, raised the qu<»:Uion whether or not almost all uyrkullural shows should be held m the lutumn. The subject is not entirely ie\v, but it is very interesting, ami may in the near future be seriously I discussed. At present it seems that the arguments of those who favour I tutumu shows and disfavour spring shows ase inconclusive. They arc j mostly right, so far as they go, but "they do not preclude to show that |:iotwithslanding thy truth of what • they contend, spring shows, too, are , desirable and necessary. Further, dairymen had not the monoy to spend |in the spring that they possessed in the autumn. | The farmer referred to was so positive that his views were the right ones that he declared that for eery argument in favour of a spring show •he would put six against them. j Being a Taranaki man, he conijinenced his reasoning by referring t v dairying. "People cannot leave their cows now," he said, "to come to a .show." Then he dealt with sheep-farming, I and said that many farmers were ju.st then engaged in shearing operations, and therefore could not possibly get away to go to a show. It {was the middle of their busiest season. | lie reckoned horses were not fit to l.c shown at the early spring shows. .They had just come through the winter, and unless they had been specially cared for they would appear to disadvantage in the ring. In the 'autumn horses would be in much bettor show condition. .Respecting hunters, he held that there would be greater numbers shown at autumn shows and that they would be in better form. Autumn showing would lit in with their work during the hunting seasun better. fu the autumn the weather i.j more settled than in the spring. lie does not think the South Island would benefit much by autumn shows, as cropping is such a big iuvn thcro. He points out that if shows r.rc held at a time when many people cannot attend them, the shows are not fulfilling their chief functions— the educational purpose. As to Taranaki, he says, the dairy farmer is of so great importance that he must be catered for. If ihat is not done, not only will it a'Tect -JTe farmers, but also the shows. Those crj his main points, gi\en briefly. There will be arguments put forward against him—such arguments as concern the showing of sheep in the wool, and so on. Autumn shows have been made very successful, notably, at Mastort-m and Feilding. Fat stock are sivn to great advantage at the ;ni(ii>nn shows. Last year's Masterton Show was said to be the greatest show of fat cattle New Zealand has over ninde.