The Royal Show.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19153, 9 November 1927, Page 10

The Royal Show.

The Show which begins at Addington to-day is the fourth held by the Royal (N.Z.) Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the second to take place in Christchurch. Some people are still doubtful whether we arc far enough advanced in New Zealand for Royal Shows, but the experience so far gained is wholly encouraging. It is possible—indeed almost certain —that there will be failures in whole or in part if the attempt is made to hold Royal fixtures in too many centres, but if the experiment is restricted for some years to two localities, one in each Island, and within reasonable distance of every place in both Islands, there is nothing to fear. This of course involves some sacrifice on the part of other localities and Associations, but although that is unpleasant, it is better than reducing the Show to the mere pretence it might easily become if stock, with our present transport facilities, had to be moved from, say, Auckland to Invercargill. On the other hand the conditions of pastoral and agricultural life in the two Islands arc sufficiently unlike to make associated Shows desirable, and the Royal Show is the best means of bringing about those comparisons and competitions that are the life of progress. At the Show now being held there are, for instance, entries of cattle and sheep from all the provinces in the Dominion except Nelson and Westland, and there is no doubt whatever that interest will be stimulated in stud stock-breeding by the opportunity that is thus afforded of seeing and comparing the best representatives drawn from such widely distant parts. It was said of the Royal Show held at Christchurch years ago that the display of sheep

vac. for the variety of breeds aDd general quality, the best to be seen in the world, and since Xew Zealand has specialised in wool production and in the raising of lamb and mutton for export, all the different breeds used for these purposes are to be seen on the Show Ground. But Xew Zealand, though we sometimes forget it in the South Island, is also a cattle as well i as a sheep country, and its dairy ini dustry has become second in import- ! anee only to the production of wool and meat. The specialised dairy breeds, the dual purpose cow, and cattle specially bred for the production of beef, will all be seen to-day in grades that for quality would be hard to beat anywhere. Draught and light horses and ponies, also, in spite of the greatly extended use of mechanical power, will likewise appear in considerable numbers, while a specially pleasing feature of the Show will be found to be the return of the implement section to its former place in size and variety. And there is, finally, the attendance, which with good weather ought to break all records. For in spite of their very real anxieties, our farmers are beginning to feel more confident, and if we may judge, as we surely may, from the size and tone of the crowds at the smaller Shows which have already been held, the public will not only be present in large numbers, but attend in better heart than they have had for a long time.