Busy Day For Women At First Day At Show

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28742, 13 November 1958, Page 2

Busy Day For Women At First Day At Show

Judges’ Day is the main business session of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s three-day show and at the Addington Show Grounds yesterday there was little evidence of the “fun of the fair.” Even the big wheels and the merry-go-rounds stood still or turned at a listless pace. The barkers were saving their voices for today. Months of hard work and planning came to an end early in the morning, when exhibitors put the final touches to their entries ready for the judges’ critical eyes.

Helping their husbands, women in overalls hurried about the cattle stalls and sheep pens cleaning horns and hooves or smoothing back into place wool on their sheep which had become teased in transport. Horses were given a last-minute shine as classes were being called into the ring. A rich aroma of freshly-baked cakes and scones wafted across the grounds as other women arranged their exhibits in the cooking classes. Farmers’ wives, who had been up with the dawn, waited about to hear results from sections which included their stock and stood by with picnic baskets, flasks of tea.

In the small first-day crowd, it was easy for country women to have a good look round the exhibits, such as the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s display of a new type of wool fabric with its felt-velour finish. The garments shown had been manufactured in South Africa and included jackets, permanentlypleated skirts and coats. A length of indigo blue printed in a black and gold band design, attracted much attention. Craft Display The occupational therapy department of the Christchurch Aged Peoples’ Welfare Council had an interesting display of craft done by elderly folk Basketry, weaving and the making of soft toys for some beloved grandchild give new zest to living to many aged and frail men and women, and help them to feel useful members of the community again. On show were cane baskets and lampshades, plastic bottle covers, dainty pieces of weaving, painted cane serviette rings, woolly mop tops, and a host of cuddly toys. These exhibits will be on sale at a large Christchurch retail firm next week.

Sewing machines, washing machines with all the latest attachments,- de luxe refrigerators and almost every kind of laboursaving device to tempt town and country housewives were being demonstrated in the trade display area.

Cooking Classes Visitors whose “show-ground” appetites could withstand the tempting odor of t-bone steaks sizzling on a charcoal barbecue outside one tent, were bound to feel hungry on entering the hut exhibiting competitive produce. At the doorway, country-baked bread, pikelets and buns were set out Further along, Christmas cakes bulging with fruit and nuts were on display. Along the end wall where it was cool, fat yellow cheeses smelled clean and tasty. A prizewinning entry of small cakes had peel flowers with yellow centres, red petals and artistically-curved green stems on an iced ground of white.

Although bottled fruit and vegetable exhibits have steadily declined through the years, there were some well-presented preserves, which included Chinese gooseberries, red beets, red cabbage, vegetables pickled in clear sauce and in mustard, sweet corn and Spanish onions. Among the most tempting jams were clear apple, lemon, black currant and Jilum jelly, and golden apricot am with white kernels showing through the jars. “Cooking entries seem to be

fewer each year—perhaps because of deep-freee as far as preserved fruit and vegetables are concerned and perhaps because of the high cost of ingredients as far as fancy cakes and biscuits go,” said a steward of the display. Art and Handicraft

Two new classes in art and craft competitions were articles made from foam rubber and garments made on knitting machines. The entries in all classes of handwork were said to be not quite as numerous as last year, but it gave the stewards the chance of making a more attractive display. A refreshing change from the tapestry pictures depicting the usual horses, flowers, birds and yachts was one delicately done of the Virgin and Child. Among the many colourful embroidered supper sloths, tray-cloths and other tablewear the classic beauty of ecru linen cut out and embroidered in self-coloured silks stood out. Original among the stuffed felt and knitted toys was a jaunty cowboy, and an especially appealing mother rabbit with a baby in her arms.

The photography exhibits included several fine landscapes of Canterbury farm scenes and some appealing studies of animal life A handsome model yacht received a special prize. Among the daintiest articles displayed were the winning handkerchief entry embroidered with tiny pink daisies and trailing ribbons and a miniature picture of Cathedral Square worked in variegated silks.