Centennial Show

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 10

Centennial Show

Today Rangiora begins a long week-end of unusually elaborate festival, a spring carnival of the countryside and its town centre. The Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s hundredth show, extended to two days because of the anniversary, the horse jumping show, and a day of racing focuses a good deal of attention on this prosperous fanning district. The preview of the week-end published yesterday was sufficient to show how thoroughly the Rangiora people have prepared to make this a memorable occasion. Few of today’s farmers, especially the young farmers, are conservative in their approach to fanning methods as were most of their forebears. At the same time, country people—perhaps because of strong attachment to their home districts and the continuity of families on the land—enjoy looking back over years of change to days when life and work was very different from what they know now. Many exhibits at the anniversary show will be examples of this slightly romantic yet often instructive habit. An appreciation of old machinery, old crafts, and relics of former households does put modem life into a refreshing perspective and may lead to a new and, perhaps, critical appreciation of modern ways. The rural enthusiasm that Rangiora and its neighbours invite others to share calls for no anology. Like all the district shows, this one celebrates quality and skill which have more than ■ft economic importance in our way of life.