OFFICIAL OPENING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 169, 18 June 1936, Page 8

OFFICIAL OPENING

NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. MAYOR PERFORMS CEREMONY. The National Dairy Show -was officially opened yesterday by the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford), who made some comment on the activities of the association, its immediate prospects,. and the future of the Showgrounds. Introducing the Mayor, the president of the Manawatu and West Coast A. a.nd P. Association (Mr Jos. Batelielar) extended a warm welcome to all patrons, and expressed pleasure at the favourable change in the weather. RETENTION OB' SHOWGROUNDiS.

Commenting upon the financial position of tne association, he stated tluat following upon a number of lean years owing to the depression, the hurricane last February had wrecked the main grandstand, and suggestions had been put forward for the subdivision and sale of the present Showgrounds; but at a genera! meeting the proposal had been deferred for eight months. Meanwhile, considerable success bad attended a membership campaign and donation drive, which had been conducted, and the general committee of the association had recommended that the present Showgrounds be retained. This would come forward for ratification at a special general meeting. Concluding, the president thanked the Mayor, City Council, electrical engineer (Mr J. IV. Muir) and his staff tor the assistance given the association, and also for their work in advancing the interests of the city generally. THE EARTH’S BOUNTY.

“I appreciate the courtesy of your committee in extending -to me the privilege of formally opening the 34th Winter Show,” stated the Mayor. “Yesterday it looked as if the SJiow was to be opened in anything but fine weather; however, to-day there is every indication that -the weather is going to clear up, and if so we will he able to look forward to a record attendance. “I am sure that no event is of more importance, or more popular with our people, than your Shows, and this is to be expected when you consider that the land in and around the Manawatu is the richest and most fertile in the Dominion, and when you further remember that New Zealand depends so largely for its prosperity on its primary products. In fact, in the final analysis, commerce, manufactures, our Home market, and every form of activity depend oil the bounty of the earth, by which every worker, skilled and unskilled, must he fed, and by which his wages are ultimately paid. The work being carried out. by the Department of Agriculture and the agricultural colleges and schools of this Dominion furnishes a broad and intelligent foundation on which to build up a new era of national prosperity, and this calls for a wise and generous support from the Government of the day. “The two Shows held by the association last year were a decided improvement on those of former years, but unfortunately. these gains were more than offset by the disastrous results of the hurricane in February last, when buildings and property of the association were damaged to the extent of £2200. It is to be hoped that the weather will continue to be fine throughout the Show, as the loss of seating accommodation in the large stand through inclement weather would seriously affect the takings, and this at a time when the association wants every penny of revenue.” After referring to the proposal to sell the Showgrounds and establish a ground further out of the city, and to the decision as mentioned by the president to call a further general meeting, when a proposal will be brought forward, recommending that the previous resolution to defer the proposal for the sale of the grounds he rescinded, the Mayor continued: “The citizens, I know, realise what the Show has meant to the growth of the city, and I am confident that they will cooperate with the committee to their fullest in any endeavour to overcome the present financial burden. A systematic canvass for new. members and donations is now being made by the committee, and to date 460 new members have been elected and approximately £IOOO promised in donations. Add to this the estimated gate receipts for June 23, which is being placed to the debt reduction account, and you have quite a substantial sum. As a matter of fact, this account already lias a credit balance of £6OO, and with the other amounts just mentioned, there should be available a sum of £2200, which should enable the association to clear off one of its mortgages of £2OOO at the conclusion of the Show.

RECORD ENTRIES. ‘‘The entries for this Show constitute a record, being 3895 as compared with 3866 last year, which was a record up to that time. The various halls comprise a tioor space of 78,000 ft., and every available foot of space ha 6 been let. Tne machinery hall, the Motor Olympia, the poultry and canary exhibits, are all worthy of inspection. We have often heard the expression, ‘a house of cards,’ but in one of the halls there is a house of butter. “There are numerous inside attractions, including tree vaudeville, as well as jugglers 'am] trapeze artists. Outside entertainments include football, representative hockey, dog trials, horse competitions, cycle races, wood chopping, steer riding, and the Hell’s Drivers carobatics. Every taste in entertainment lias been catered tor, and no previous Show has had the attractions provided for the public equal to those provided on this occasion. IMPORTANCE OE SHOWS.

“Speaking of agricultural shows generally, m a country such as ours, they are of paramount importance, because breeders and others interested have an opportunity of viewing the various- exhibits and seeing where the very necessary improvements for increasing the value of their various breeds, herds, and other stock can be made. Our agricultural shows, as well as our agricultural schools and colleges,, should receive the sympathetic .support of all sections ot the community. What the Government arid the people must appreciate is the absolute necessity of developing production in all spheres of industry and agricultural activity to balance the divisions and subdivisions of labour. This, when propeny carried out, will show that town and'country are essential to each other as Capital is to Labour. Our people, young and old, must be imbued with the true ideal of life; that is, the highest and the greatest good to all the people, not a few of the people. Let this be accomplished, and you will then shape anew the fortunes of this Dominion, and we can then claim New Zealand to be ‘God’s Own Country’ in every sense of the word. “T hope the efforts of the president, the committee, and secretary will he amply repaid for all their trouble by seeing at the conclusion of the Show that this has been the most successful yet held. I now have very much pleasure in declaring the Winter Show duly, open.” Cheers were then given lor the Mayor and president.