Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1933. THE SPRING SHOW.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 286, 31 October 1933, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1933. THE SPRING SHOW.

There are most favourable indications for tlie Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association being rewarded for its efforts on behalf of the community, both rural and urban, with a highly successful Spring Show. In a year of marked adversity, particularly for the primary producers, it could not be expected that entries in the live stock .divisions would be maintained on the basis of those in prosperous times. The cost of preparing and taking stock to and from Shows is a not inconsiderable item of expenditure to be met, and in lean times it presses heavily on the farmers’ reduced income. It therefore is most satisfactory to find that in some respects the _ classes have been well maintained, and in others that the falling off is perhaps no more than was to have been expected. As the Royal Show was held in this centre last year a true comparison is to be found with the entries for the 1931 spring exhibition. This shows that cattle will be penned on this occasion in larger numbers than two years ago, while horses are numerically about the same. This is a pleasing feature, especially so far as horses are concerned, and the recent indications that they are again returning to popular favour encourage the hope that at future Shows they wili be as prominent as in the past. The heavy type is in demand again for essential farm work, and the Hunt Clubs give encouragement , to the breeding and training of the saddle horse. Sheep and pigs will not be shown in the same strength as in 1931, and while the decline in entries is to be accepted as a sign of the times, it seems at least strange that with the remunerative results to be gained from careful and selective pig breeding more attention is not devoted to the exhibiting of this animal. Competitions and photography are two sections for which the response is less, but needlework, home industries and the schools divisions are still strikingly popular. It is in fact the gain in home industries and the school children’s classes, particularly the latter, that has given the Association a total of 4131 entries compared with 2971 at the 1931 Spring Show. The encouragement to school children and the older pupils of the art and technical schools to display their craftsmanship has been _ splendidly rewarded, and this is a feature of the Show that has been developed with excellent results. This is the fourth Spring Show to be Held in the shadow of adverse times, but it is gratifying to know that the clouds are lifting and the outlook is much brighter than a year ago gave hope for. It will be sincerely hoped that ere another year has passed the marked improvement shown in Britain will be fully reflected in the Dominion, and there will be _ a return to -the displays of live stock that have made the Palmerston North Show the best of its kind in the North Island. In any event the. public are assured this week of an exhibition of pedigree animals whose quality would not be surpassed anywhere in this country.