PROGRESSIVE CHEVIOT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15921, 6 May 1912, Page 6

PROGRESSIVE CHEVIOT.

The typical New Zealand farmer is seldom guilty of excessive optimism and there are times when his temperament inclines rather to pessimism. It may therefore be safely assumed that the confidently cheerful tone adopted by the speakers at the annual dinner of tho Cheviot Agricultural and. Pastoral Association reflects a condition of sound and healthy prosperity throughout the district. It is rarely that a representative gathering of farmers does not find some grievance to ventilate and some special claim to press upon the attention of the Government, but the Cheviot settlers :'.|jp:-:ar to be in the happy position of providing the rare exception that •.roves the rule. The speakers on Friday night, being all modest men, were alive to the shortcomings of their district, but with entirely commendable self-reliance they pointed out that the remedies for them lay in the hands of the farmers themselves. The exhibits at the recent show wore keenly and analytically criticised, bub the criticisms were never merely destructive. Proposals of an eminently practical character were made for the improvement of the . quality of the stock and produce by the settlers' own efforts, and altogether tho gathering breathed a spirit of self-reliance which is not always associated on such occasions with the dominion's industries. An instructive comparison between New Zealand and British agricultural shows brought forth a delightfully patriotic defence of New Zealand's cx-

hibitions and exhibits from no less an authority than Mr Andrew Rutherford, who was able to speak with a firsthand knowledge of what was being done in both countries. The one fly in Cheviot's ointment seems to ho the distance of tho railway station from its capital city, but encouraged either by.the ease with which cities are being moved in America or by the prospect of a branch line to Mackenzio it is accepting this little disadvantage ■with admirable' equanimity. Of course, no partisan references to general politics wore made at the gathering, and Mr Rutherford's plea for increased representation of tile farming interests in Parliament was quite" natural and excusable in the circumstances, while his tribute to the organisation of the Australian Labour Party saved his remarks from the suspicion of party bias. The Cheviot settlers are to be congratulated upon tho possession of a vigorous and manly spirit of selfreliance as well as upon tho good fortune that has cast their lines in extremely . pleasant places.