MANAWATU SPRING SHOW

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 33, 2 November 1933, Page 5

MANAWATU SPRING SHOW

GREAT FESTIVAL OPENS

Over Four Thousand Entries

Id/ith large entries and well-filled exhibition halls, the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s forty-eighth Metropolitan Spring Show, which opened on the Palmerston North showgrounds yesterday morning, has every indication of proving itself to be one of the most successful shows staged by the association. Everything possible to ensure the success of the show has been carried out by the Association, and on the wcathei alone the measure of success is now dependent. The entries for this year’s festival total 4140, compared with 4717 for last year’s Royal Agricultural Shozv, and 2971 for the 1931 Spring Shozv.

( PRACTICAL FARMfNG ( Agricultural Colleges 'T’O meet the educational needs of the "*■ farmers of the future, agricultural schools and colleges combining theory and practice have been established throughout New Zealand. At first these schools were not accorded a sympathetic hearing by the farming community for it was believed that they, providing as they did a curriculum of theoretical work, would not produce the type of young man who would ultimately ’■» prepared to make the sacrifices which farming, as an occupation, calls for. As more thought was given to the practical side of farming these schools received increased support and to-day they have made a'steady growth in number and.in the amount and value of their work; In addition to being one of the richest dairying districts in the Dominion, the Manawatu district has gained further distinction as the centre of agricultural learning for the North Island. Through its secondary schools, agricultural training farms and the University of Agriculture, Massey College, the district provides a rich training field for young farmers. The chief agricultural education institutes are Massey Agricultural College, Feilding Agricultural High School, the Boys’ Flock House, the Weraroa Training Farm, and the Palmerston North Boys' 4 High School.

HN spite of the present condi tions, the standard of the show has maintained its usual high level and the support received by the association from competitois and exhibitors must be considered excellent. The stock, though not numerically as strong as at some of the association s spring shows, has come forward for judging in excellent condition following on a favourable season. The competition in the stock sections in this show is very keen, and in most of the sections the task of the judges in selecting the winning exhibits will be an arduous one on account of uniformity of quality. The most popular section this year, however, is the art and technical and public schools’ competition in which the entries have reached the magnificent total of 2236. The entries in these sections totalled 1951 at the ■Royal Show and 960 at the 1931 spring

show. The home industries section too has been well patronised, and the entries eclipse those of the two previous shows. The entries in this section are 432 compared with 318 last year and 303 in 1931. The entries in the horse sections show a decrease of three over the 1931 show, but the cattle entries show an increase of 24 entries over the 1931 figures.

The Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association has received excellent support from stock breeders during the past few years when many other associations throughout the Dominion have been faced with a dwindling support from exhibitors. The association has received excellent entries for each of its two annual shows for the past three years, a fact that is striking evidence of the increasing recognition of the value of the competitive showring as a means of stimulating producers, by comijetition, to improve the quality of their stock or produce. The economic conditions of the past few years have revealed the necessity of produce and stock of the highest quality if the Dominion must successfully compete in the markets of the world.

The favourable position of Palmerston North from a geographical point of view and the unequalled amenities and facilities offered by the association’s commodious grounds for the

JUVENILE FARMERS Club Movements tpHE Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club movement, which has now been firmly established throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion, has been taken up enthusiastically by pupils of the country schools in the Manawatu district during the past few years. The value of the work done by these clubs is immense, and it is unquestionable that they are playing an important part in the education and training of the young farmers of the Dominion. By competitions the clubs are instilling in the juvenile farmers a desire for crops and stock of the highest standard and are bringing them to a faller recognition of the value of fertilisers and manures and systematic cultivation in securing the highest soil productivity, and the utilisation of more efficient feeding methods in the improvement of the quality and stamina of stock. These are two important factors in modern farming methods and the creation of a desire for quality at an early age will reap benefits for the farmers in later years. The Manawatu country schools have taken up the movement seriously and the club competitions are now playing an important part in the educational sphere of the sons and daughters of Manawatu farmers. Competitions are held annually for mangold growing and calf rearing and create rivalry between the respective schools in addition to assisting in bringing opt the individuality and enterprise of the competitors.

■ exhibition of the stock and produce have been significant factors in the association’s success in the good times and' the present. At this year’s fixture there are on exhibition all the well known breeds of sheep, cattle, pigs, horses and dogs, all housed under spacious pavilions and in hygienic and healthy conditions. For those who are lovers of good horses, the comprehensive programme of ring competitions will provide an opportunity for them to see many of the best horses in the North Island in competition. The lover of thrills has been catered for with the ever popular and thrilling steer riding competitions. For those who like to wander through the exhibition halls and gaze on the industrial and commercial exhibits, and for those who like the amusements of the sideshows, there is much to see at this year’s show, all tastes have been catered, for and one and all are assured of one of the most interesting shows ever held.

The entries are a s follow 1933 1932 1931 Competitions . ... 157 1S7 208 Horses 203 250 206 Cattle 294 532 270 Sheep 361 753 484 Fleece wool . 16 38 '51 Pigs 164 227 205 Needlework 201 356 196 Home Industries .. 432 318 303 Photography .... Art and technical 67 95 88 and public schools 2236 1951 960 Total 4131 4717 2971