SHORTHORNS PREDOMINATING BREED AT THE FIRST EGMONT SHOW

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 November 1933, Page 12

SHORTHORNS PREDOMINATING BREED AT THE FIRST EGMONT SHOW

The life-long interest which Mr. \V. McL’Dowie (Matapu) has taken in the affairs of the Egmont A. and P. Association is evidenced by the fact that of the 49 shows already held in Hawera he has missed attending only one of them, and that through an illness which confined him in hospital. Mr. McL’Dowie regards the forthcoming jubilee show as the turning point to prosperity in the history of the association and the forerunner of bigger and better shows in the future. “1 was quite young when I attended the first show in Hawera with my father and mother, the late Mr ant* Mrs D, McL’Dowie, who were ardent supporters of the movement,” said Mr McL’Dowie, when interviewed by a “Hawera. Star” reporter. “It seemed that the whole province turned cut for the occasion, scores of people attending from long - distances to compete with stock and horses, but the majority because It was the first social event of any importance in the district and they had looked forward to it for months.” For two or three years prior to 188 b shows were held

| ''Comparing the dairy cow of to-day with that of 50 years ago, 1 doubt whether, even with careful breeding and modern methods of pasture management, feeding and milking, the production can be equalled,” said Mr McL’Dowie, who recalled that his father had a Shorthorn which not- only kept the household supplied with generous quantities of milk and cream, but also produced in a. weekly churning 141bs. of butter. At the show the dnii'.V stock was mostly of the big Shorthorn type with enormous capacities for milk production and the most successful exhibitor of the breed was Mr. Fantham. EARLY COMPETITORS. “I am afraid we do not see the same number of horses in the show ring now as there were in those early days,” Mr. McL’Dowie continued. “Anyone possessing a horse of reasonably good appearance was only too proud to show off his fine points. Mr. Dickie (Waverley), who is still a member of the association, was a prominent exhibitor. Even his buggy pair,;

t New Plymouth, Patea and Wanga ui, the show at Hawera being j.ro loted mainly because of the rivatr hieh existed between .Hawera- am 'atea at the time “The prime never ppear to have been the businesumci f Hawera, who had the welfare o fieir town- and district very much a eart.” said Mr McL’Dowie. “One o tiese was Mr B. C. Robbins, now o auranga, and among others Messrs . C. Yorke, J. Lysaght, J. S. Caver ill, J. Winks, J. Livingston, Moon lunter, A. A. Fantham, A. H. Duff !■. H Xolau, Max D. King and R. B [amilton. THE INAUGURAL SHOW. That the ultimate formation of the grnont Agricultural and Pastoral Asiciation was justified was borne out bj le excellent entries received for tin laugural show. Breeders who had aclined to exhibit at Patea. includ g Messrs. Fantham, Peacock, Cav■hill, Dickie, Winks and Wilson, cann rward with the best stock that tliej id to offer and the show was a mem■able affair.” In those days calve? n with their dams and were weaned ; six to nine months, when they were ’ that time the delight of the graer and fattener so far as condition id size were concerned. There was nsidcrably more risk in mustering i the stock were more or less wild, reason for the extraordinarily high ils to be observed at some of the der stockyards in various parts of e district. The dual purpose beast is the more popular animal. With gard to sheep, there were farmers io kept their fancied breed and the rgely-attended sheep fairs in South iranalii gave evidence of the extent the sheep raising industry.

iiiiiMtiiaiiiiiiiimaiiii!iiiiMiiift»iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiii nmin in * ■ which had been driven from Waverle the day before, competed.” Amoii the earliest lady riders whom Mi McL’Dowie remembered were Mr ;'A’Court and Mrs H. Gibson, but ther were numerous others who, too, too a prominent part in ring events. Tli early judges did not have too plea sail a time. Their decisions were not ac , cepted without question and they wer | fortunate if they got through the da; without a severe castigation from som irate exhibitor whose entry had bee, passed over. There was one inciden in a ring event which Mr McL’Dowihad occasion to remember during hi visit to Hastings at the recent Labou | Day week-end. He met Mr. A Reid 1 one of the judges at the first show who described how, one one occasion ihe judged a hack class and was abou to tie a third place rosette to a eer tain horse’s bridle when he receive* a stinging blow from a whip. “] don’t want that!” exclaimed the rid er, who demanded to know why sin should not receive first prize. M<i Reid turned to the class in the eata logue and, stepping back to a saf< distance, replied that the class was open only to lady riders, emphasising the word “lady.” The first showgrounds were loch-tec in the vicinity of what is now Dixor Avenue in Hawera. The public sub scribed liberally to enable the eree j tion of yards and for three or fom | years afterwards this remained tin I venue of subsequent shows until tin | present grounds were acquired. Mr i McL’Dowie ' remembered that his | father, together with Messrs, Inkster ! Heslop, Robertson, Davidson, Buclia I nan and others, helped to dismantle the old yards. Some of the material was used again for the erection of new nflnc iv lii nil tv at A sit ill ill USA Oil tllf l

Mr W. McL’Dowie’s Recollections of Early Exhibitions

present grounds. The association since , then had had its lean years and its i years of prosperity and buildings were erected and the property improved as opportunity offered. Representations i were made at one time by the Patea and Taranaki associations for an amalgamation of the three bodies and the holding of annual moveable shows at each centre in alternate years. This was not acceptable to the Egmont association, which wisely elected to maintain its individual identity. INFLUENCE OF ASSOCIATION. Mr. MeL’Dowie paid tribute to the great influence of the association in encouraging, '.the development of agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Many of the best-known exhibitors to-day had to thank the association for their present fine herds which in many instances had been built up on the advice of highly competent judges brought, to this district. The association also had been the means of introducing to farmers some of the scientific methods of production—machines and equipment which had dis-

’ placed what many were pleased t-o ; style the drudgery of farm work Mr McL’Dowie was not unmindfu s of the very great assistance that th< ; towjispeople of Hawera liad given ti : the association. The annual show. > had brought town and country to ; gether and the progress of one wa. enjoyed by the other. Whilst the towi t was dependent largely on the resources of the country, the country in turn ■ was served with the utmost efficiency by the town’s commercial and busines; houses. The large centre of popula i tion, too, made it possible for thi : country people, to enjoy the amenities of electricity, telephones, daily deliv eries, railway services, good roads public hospital, library entertainment: and the like. He considered that th: , association as a district institution ought to be more widely supported b the farmers, because it existed for th'. advancement and • deYlelopmpnt oi farming, and by the townspeople, be cause the improvement and develop ment meant more .business. • In 1906 Mr McL’Dowie was electee to the committee and in 1927 becann president for three years until 1926 During his term the greatest property improvement was the roofing over o the pig pens. A new stand was contemplated, but the proposal was nevei gone on with Mr McL’Dowie is the present treasurer of the association. Names which stood out most prom inently in the early history of the association, said Mr McL’Dowie, were those of Caverhill, Lysaght, Livingston and Fantham who did a great I deal to popularise the annual shows. With the advent of dairying on a cooperative basis the character of the show changed but little:, and to-day. as at the first shows, the most coveted prizes were for dairy stock.