The Show.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17609, 11 November 1922, Page 10

The Show.

Everybody concerned for the welfare and progress of Canterbury's Metropolitan Show—and that includes a very large proportion of the population of the province—must be gratified at the success which attended it this year. From many points of view it was fully up to the high standard reached in previous years and) in somei respects it was the beet on record. The display of sheep is generally admitted by those competent to express an opinion to have been the bost ever seen in New Zealand, and one experienced breeder, who has attended shows in Argentina, the Royal Show in fingland, and the Highland Society's Show in Scotland, has declared that the display of sheep at Addingtob yesterday was one of the finest in the world. The condition of the exhibits, as well as their quality, wa3 remarkably good, but it is in the variety of breeds exhibite;' that our Show challenges comparison with any other. We have here all the breeds seen at English shows, plus Oorriedales and Merinos, while Australia specialises in Merinos and crossbreds, and does not compare at all well with New Zealand in the other breeds. In the cattle section, the show of Shorthorns was particularly fine, and was probably one of the best that could be got together in Nerw Zealand or Australia, while some ,of the dairy classes showed a marked advance. In houses it was evident that Clydesdales are making no advance towards regaining the fine standard from wheh they have declined in recent years. The display of implements reminded one of the- admirable exhibitions of years gone by, when the I implements were one of the featuresi of a show, and lent it an interest to the agriculturist that has been somewhat lacking of late. Favoured with peHfefct weather, warm and windless, the Sj'iow drew a huge crowd, and once more demonstrated its position as one of thepremier attractions of the yeiar in Canterbury. The improvements that have been made, in the lay-out of the grounds were a subject of many appreciative comments. Apart from the other advantages of the changes which have been made, the altered arrangements were seen to have the effect of distributing the crowd better. The executive of the A. and P. Association should concentrate their efforts on still further improving the arrangements of the 'grounds and effecting reforms wherever possible, for the question of the site of the first Royal Show in New Zealand is still undecided, and if the Christchurch Show Ground can be shown to be up-to-date in all respects it is quite possible that it may be selected for the distinction.