The Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1927. THE OTAGO SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 6

The Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1927. THE OTAGO SHOW.

Sojib persons may have failed to notice the peculiarity of the rain that fell upon Dunedin yesterday. Two storms were experienced—the first, advancing from the east, marred tho show; the second, from tho west, ruined it. With fmo weather it would have been a good show, probably a profitable one. and all concerned might have been content to carry on and trust to fortune for the future. As it was wrecked there i a general unofficial inquiry as to whether causes other than the weather had anything to do with tho wrecking, and all sorts or theories are propounded. A favorite opinion, that the entries are not sufficiently numerous, may have something to do with tho steady decline in importance which marks this and other shows of a like nature. But it is given undue weight. The Sydney Show at Eastertide commands a smaller display of breeding live stock than can be seen at tho Otago ~w, yet it attracts the multitude, the reason for the large attendance at Sydney being that tho show there is. a gigantic fair full of mercantile novelties. Nobody can wish that Otago’s eminence bo restored on those lines. If more stock is needed tho demand should bo that it bo fully representative, coming from a wider circle of breeders.

That leads up to the suggestion wo pub forward as a contribution to the discussion. The suggestion is that it is> the duty of our herd owners and flock owners and breeders in general to interest themselves in tho Otago Show, and thus bring in the competition that sets everything going. Our older men—many of them, at any rate are seeing their responsibility in this matter. But what about pin younger men? Are they seized oi the privilege and tho duty ol serving the society that lias helped tho country folk so much in tho past, giving them corporate influence and a public voice? And are they willing to stand by and see those advantages lost by tho society retiring into the shade? There may be a dozen ways of regaining tho society's position, but this surely is one of them—to persuade our farmers of thirty and forty years of age to put their shoulders to the wheel and do some of the work that is now '.eft to men of sixty and seventy. It is a reproach to New Zealand generally that our agricultural societies are managed by men who ought to be retiring by reason of age. Other considerations are worth thinking about. For example, it Is whispered about that the directors are less enthusiastic about the summer show than in centring attention on the Winter Show. That is a matter that must be left- to internal adjustment. We merely mention it as a rumor which may or may not be true. The question of date is another matter that cannot be put on one side as finally disposed of. There is evidence in the books that the altering of the date to late summer in the past was profitable, A city of Dunedin’s size ami importance cannot afford to have a poor show, and with the breeders and good country behind it the association should bo able to make a good one. The Exhibition of two years ago showed what Dunedin can do when it puts its shoulder to the wheel, and if the smaller associations are making their summer shows successful tho General Committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association should look round and learn how the same improvement can bo made in its fixture. A good show is the best index to tlio agricultural wealth and productivity of the province.