THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1927. THE AUCKLAND SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1927. THE AUCKLAND SHOW.

Auckland has reached such a size that an event like the summer show cannot be the centre of universal interest it once was. It needs something very much out of the ordinary to seize and hold the attention of the whole community. Though Auckland is growing into too much of a great city for the show to do this, the fact need not impair its success, and certainly does not diminish by one iota its importance. If there are more people staying away, there are also more going, giving it ample support to keep its success beyond question. Its importance remains because the greater a city Auckland becomes the more need to realise the ultimate foundation on which its greatness is built —rural industry. The city exists primarily by the services it renders the great province of which it is chief port and outlet. For its growth to be legitimate and soundly economic, it must be duly proportioned to the progress of the country. Since then the agricultural show not only demonstrates, but stimulates, the development of those factors which make the strength and sinew of rural industry it ought to have an appeal to the townsman, even to him 'who is not interested by being in direct business contact with the country dweller. Each has its own uses, but the summer show has about it a life and movement that winter exhibitions lack. In the winter the product of the farm fills the stage. The summer show deals principally with the producing agents, the cattle, sheep and pigs which supply the yield, the horses which do so much of the work on the farm The living creatures ought to make it of greater interest to those who cannot view its display with the eye of an expert. The keynote of the show is, as it should be, competition.- The progressive farmer works for quality in his flocks and herds, because quality pays. It is not conceivable that he would buy, breed and select simply to win the blue ribbon at a show. But, having aimed at quality, and believing that he has succeeded, it is naturally an added satisfaction if his skill and judgment are en-* dorsed by the verdict of expert and impartial judges Whether a prizewinner. or not. he can gain by being an exhibitor. The opportunity of comparing his own stock line by line, point for point with the best the province can pen is not to be despised. It is by comparisons of this kind that he learns, and farming is an occupation where there is room to be learning all the time The opportunity is there for all. exhibitor and mere spectator alike, but there is not much doubt that the man with stock of his own in the contest will note more carefully and remember more exactly the difference between his and those which are a little better, or not quite so good An agricultural show is, in fact, educa tional if it is of any value at all When things are done on a smaller scale in country centres, it iB also a social occasion ofAme importance Auckland has grown too much, its show patrons come from too far afield, for everybody to know everybody, as is possible in the country. Still, from the social aspect, it gives townsman and countryman a chance to rub shoulders to know one another better. It is well that its social value should remain, even if its other and more important side" require more emphasis. It is the search for quality, lor the best breed and the best in that breed, which the agricultural show is meant to aid and stimulate. The objective always has been important. It was never more so than to-day. Primary industry has faced difficult times, from which it has learned certain useful lessons. One is that the slogan "more production" alone does not go far enough. There must also be more economic production. It is essential that more acres should be broken in and made to yield their quota of produce, but it is also necessary that the land already in use should be made to yield in a higher degree. Better quality of output, and a higher quantity per cow, as well as per acre, have been preached to the farmer, and with good reason. There has come from Britain a considered warning that in the markets on which New Zealand most relies competition is likely to grow more intense To the producer it has been suggested that safety for him lies in jealously guarding the high reputation his commodity has won, and in endeavouring to lower the cost of production. Since the animal with the high yield of butter, wool or meat an be fed and maintained, in the ordinary way, just as cheaply as the less profitable type, to grade up flocks and herds is the way to safety and prosperity. In so far'as agricultural shows help toward this end they are events of national importance, and that to open at Auckland to-day is no exception.