PROSPEROUS MANAWATU

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 106, 1 November 1939, Page 18

PROSPEROUS MANAWATU

SHOW ASSOCIATION REFLECTS WEALTH OF DISTRICT

IMPROVEMENTS IN GROUNDS ADD TO CITY'S FACILITIES

The Spring Show of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association will open tomorrow, and, following the practice of years, the "Evening Post" offers these pages to mark an event of agricultural importance not only to the Wellington district, but to the whole of the farming community. By virtue of its geographical position and proximity to some of the most fertile country in the Dominion, Palmerston North has long since assumed the responsibility of setting a. standard for both winter and spring shows. The mere fact that the association's winter fixture is .always held in conjunction with .the National Dairy Show indicates the strength of the district; but full indication of the resources and potentialities of the Manawatu is not given until the' Spring Show, which, with increasing vigour, has been the barometer of agricultural wealth. When enthusiastic pioneers formed the show association in 1886, they little knew of the trials that lay ahead, but today, with many storms weathered, the association stands as a monument to their foresight and courage. Further improvements have been made to the grounds this year, and they add to the facilities of the thriving

The position of importance occupied by the. association among the agricultural institutions of the Dominion has not been attained in any burst. Competition has been keen, but growth, although gradual, has been remarkably steady. The claim that the association possesses the best-appointed grounds and buildings in the Dominion is no idle boast. The show covers a floor space of more than 78,000 square feet; the association owns 33; acres almost in the heart of Palmerston North, and more than a third of this area is occupied with buildings.'b Stock arrangements are, without question, the most spacious and Up-to date in the country. The cattle pavilion is so large that it is able to house the whole of the cattle section under one roof. The three sheep and two pig pavilions are just as commodious, and there are ample stalls and' boxes for horses.

There is scarcely a foot of waste space on the grounds, and centralisation of activity has made for the utmost efficiency in the running of so huge an undertaking as the .Spring Show.

The two grandstands together can accommodate more than 4000 persons, and this year visitors will -find much in the way of general improvement to the grounds; Possibly the first of these improvements that will be noticed is the removal of the cinders from the- dirt track around the outer edge of the oval. This has done away with the dust nuisance,' and the surface that has been left is quite firmjan'd level, and would make a good cycling track, which will no doubt be used when the association conducts cycling races on the last day of the show.

Those who patronise the "bank" on the outside of the oval will be pleased to learn that this has been raised considerably and given a coating of gravel. In front of the stand the portion of ground between the stand and the oval has been levelled out in such a way that people watching events will be able to follow their progress more easily. This is to receive a screening of fine gravel before the show, and it is hoped at a later date to top-dress it with asphalt. Coming to the back of the big stand, a tremendous change is at once apparent, and where there was formerly an uneven paddock useii as football grounds in the winter there is now a huge green lawn right across to the cattle pavilions. It is here that the machinery exhibits will be staged, and the space will be laid out to the greatest a*3 VJ3n "fc 3. _T__ Between" the end of the stand and the ladies' cloakroom an area has been enclosed for the draught horse ring, and around this will.be placed seating accommodation so. that the judging may be followed more easily. Down in the bottom right-hand corner alongside the horse lines are the new mare and foal pens, which have been constructed in a solid manner. Previously they were more to the left, but have been transferred to permit of a greater length being obtained for the football ground. It means also that all the horse facilities have been consolidated. STOCK PAVILIONS.

' Inside the stock pavilions there is a noticeable improvement, all the floors having been levelled out and given a new coating of gravel, which should make for greatly-improved conditions during show time. Sumps have been constructed beneath the ground to

take storm and surplus watei", so that the floor should be dry in all weathers. Near the stock pavilions, but in the recess nearer to Featherston Street, the night pens for the use of the sheep during the Centennial Show have been laid out and are in readiness to receive the sheep. At the Wheeler Memorial the last of the damage sustained during the storm which wrecked the main stand has been repaired. The. rough-cast exterior, which suffered considerably, has been replaced by weather boarding, ahd this has enhanced the appearance of the building considerably. Another; feature which will be appreciated is the laying of metal roads between the pig and sheep pavilions. Here the same method of handling incoming stock as was used last year is to be adopted for the Centennial Show, the principle of the continuous circuit being found to operate to advantage. The whole of this work has been carried out under the supervision of the grounds committee, which utilised Scheme 13 labour, and much of the credit must go to Mr. J. A. Russell, the chairman^ who was ably assisted by the members. A great deal of work has been done which should contribute to the success of the next show. FERTILE FARM &ANDS. Palmerston North is surrounded by rich and fertile farming lands of varying types. It is a valuable clearing house for a large output of primary produce, fed by almost the entire southern half of the North Island.. Primary industries are the mainstay of the district, and perhaps nowhere else in the Dominion can be found a place so admirably situated for the, display of this produce and the pedigree animals bred in the Manawatu. As well as being the centre of a district in which all classes of farming are represented, Palmerston North is the focal point for a great many breeders of high quality. To the pioneers who have cultivated these widely-bknown pedigree strains the district, in particular, and the Dominion as,a whole, owes a debt—a debt which can readily be appreciated when it is realised that stock from the Manawatu has been introduced to many flocks and herds for building-up and breedingimprovement purposes. The central geographical position of Palmerston North is also important, and one of the noticeable factors in the--success of previous shows is .that Palmerston North's situation can* give producers from all parts of the Dominion art almost equal opportunity of attending. PEDIGREE STOCK. As Palmerston North is within easy reach of the principal breeders of all classes of stock in tlie Dominion, the pick of. animals is, without fail, always centred for competition at Manawatu shows. Palmerston North enjoys opportunities which are denied other centres. Not only do the districts surrounding the city contain an extremely large percentage of the stock raised in'the entire North Island, but the aninjals are of the finest breeds obtainable in the Dominion. Pedigree animals, whether imported or raised in this country, are more or less evenly distributed over the Dominion, but there is no area which can claim such an average high-quality standard of all classes of stock as that surrounding Palmerston North. Indeed, some notable animals have been bred in this district, and their progeny have been the, mainstay of1 many breeds.