SHOW REQUIRES CLOSE TOWN-COUNTRY LINKS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 21

SHOW REQUIRES CLOSE TOWN-COUNTRY LINKS

Close links between the city and the country were needed if the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral show were to be worthy of Canterbury, this year’s president, Mr Harry Menzies, said. The show was essential to the rural community and to the town and business areas and a joint effort between both sectors was necessary if the show were to stay in existence. Because of the constantly increasing expenses incurred in organising and conducting the show, the co-operation of the city was most essential, Mr Menzies said. The metropolitan show could not be run along the same lines as the smaller country shows. It must join in with the city because it could not be run from the farming angle alone. The Centennial Ground Development Scheme has been initiated to get the expansion of the show under way, Mr Menzies said. aerial top dressing work, will also be on display.

Mr Menzies has farmed on Banks Peninsula all his life, on a 1000 acre property, which runs 1800 Romney sheep and 140 Hereford cattle. The farm which is run in partnership with his son-in-law Mr L Hands, is at Decanter Bay, just on the Christchurch side of Little Akaroa. It has been in the Menzies’ family since 1870. Mr Menzies’ two brothers, Messrs I and A. Menzies,

are his farming neighbours. The property which Mr Menzies farms was fully electrified in 1922, six years before there was a road to the farm. Before the road came, access was by boat. “There was a very good service. It was like farming on an island," Mr Menzies said. He has been on the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association for more than 20 years and has previously been president of the Banks Peninsula Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Peninsula Horse Show Association. He also served on the Banks Peninsula Power Board for 20 years, until its amalgamation with the Central Power Board last year.

Polo has always been one of his interests and he was captain of the Banks Peninsula team, which included his two brothers and Sir Bruce Stewart.