THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1923. AUCKLAND'S SPRING SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18576, 7 December 1923, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1923. AUCKLAND'S SPRING SHOW.

The first and last impression of the Spring Show is its witness to New Zealand's natural wealth. Ours is a land richly endowed by Nature. This is true in a wider way than I even the Agricultural and Pastoral Association sets itself to demonstrate. Far beneath the surface of the soil is a mineral store of enormous value. There, too, the forests of earlier centuries have deposited va3t treasures, a heritage for many years to come. In the numerous streams that broadcast refreshment for animal and plant is a double service, for they bear in their tireless journeys power as well as fertility. The very skies wait upon the needs of life, and the girdling ocean teems with plenty. Human life,' in such a setting, is dowered beyond the dreams of avarice. Passing through the avenues of the Show and noting all that the Association has done, with the co-operation of other societies, to bring together representative products of forest and field, orchard and garden, one is impressed by this broad fact. Never had a land more bounteo'us provision for its inhabitants' physical necessities. More particularly do the displays marshalled by the Association bring home this indebtedness to Nature. Our prosperity is rooted in the soil and nourished by the ministry of sea and river and sky. Amid conditions that keep steadfast faith with human hopes and labours, our own sustenance is won with a certainty and ease denied to many other lands. More than that, our equable climate, marked by adequate rainfall and sunshine, is contributory to such an unsurpassed fecundity of soil that we can do much to supply the primal needs of others. We can send overseas exports so desired by them that in exchange may be acquired those other things that fill the requirements of a comfortable and pleasant existence. *

This witness of the Show gives force to the further fact that if we in New Zealand are poor it is largely our own. fault. There are conditions beyond our control, of course. We are affected by the changing states of the world's markets, for instance, and times of low prices for our exports are inevitable. But these setbacks are but The world's requirements keep ahead of their supply in the aggregate ; and as a rule there will be found a profitable market for all that we can produce. One condition chiefly calls for strenuous fulfilment. It is that we keep our-exports up to the highest possible point of good quality. Other things matter less. In serving that end the Agricultural i and Pastoral Association does laudable wort. Not only does it encourage Exhibition definite aid to maintenance of quality; it ako keeps alert, by competitive contests, the desire to excel. This service tends to make the human factor efficient, and maintain production at a high level. The Show, in this respect, is infinitely more than a holiday fair, however enjoyable may be its social intercourse and gaiety. The seeing eye will find it true to name—a manifestation iof things already existent, but too often overlooked and the earnest mind will find it full of prompting to ever better work in the development of the Dominion's great resources.

The fact that the Show is both metropolitan and provincial impresses some particular lessons. First in appeal of these is the boundless resources of all the hinterland of this city. This whole provincial area is a unit of wonderful natural advantage. It is inevitable, and reasonable, that a measure of local interest and pride should be maintained in all the Dominion's different provincial districts. They arose, for the most part, as separately colonised areas; they had distinct local government for many years and they naturally preserve some community of interest. In this there is not the slightest hostility to other areas. The development of their enterprises and facilities is not frowned upon, but welcomed as contributory to the whole Dominion's welfare. Indeed in the Show itself, where stock and; dairy products from various parts of New Zealand are on competitive exhibition, this welcome is manifested. But, as predominantly an Auckland institution, designed to serve both city and province of that name, it will stimulate endeavour to keep the agricultural and pastoral enterprises of this area up to a high standard. A further lesson is impressed—it is that of the need and value of close co-operation between city and country. The metropolitan and provincial interests are, after all, complementary. Historically, the province has grown outward from the city, and the city to-day continues its service to the country by providing facilities for the outward distribution of exports and the inward distribution of imports. The country, on its part, wins the harvest of raw materials and foodstuffs which are the basis of this traffic, as well as the immediate necessities of human life. For either to forget the service of the other would be suicidal. Mutual aid is imperatively essential. Ministering to this. co-operation, the Show elaimsthe enthusiastic patronage of both urban and rural Aucklanders.