THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1928. THE JUBILEE SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 12

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1928. THE JUBILEE SHOW.

With every promise of success, the annual Spring Show of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association opens to-day. Unusual interest attaches to it as a jubilee event in the history of farming in this province. There were such shows in Auckland earlier than fifty years ago, but that of' 1878, advertised as an "immense attraction," marked a new departure in the rural prospects of this region. How well it justified the advertised descrip tion is seen in the fact that, during the day, the Ellerslie show ground was thronged by what was then considered a large crowd—between 13000 and 4000 people—a number that would have been exceeded, it is recorded, had there not been that day a general election of county councillors. More significant is the gratification expressed at that show's success in the quality of its exhibits. "Hitherto our agricultural shows have been .trivial as compared with those held in the South," runs the press comment; "the horses, cattle and sheep which we had to exhibit were greatly inferior, and the agricultural produce was hardly to be compared." Rut that show manifested "that we have made rapid strides." Following an expression of hope based on New Zealand's climatic advantages over Australia, often vexed with drought, is a confident claim that "in many respects we are even' more happily situated than our Southern fellowcolonists," and then this —"at last, therefore,' it may be affirmed that Auckland has entered the race of agriculture with the rest of New Zealand." The province was not by any means out of the wood. As late as 1901 there was written a plaint about the handicap of poor communications and a regret that landholders were not doing more to provo and make the most of the capabilities of their land. Still, a ray of hope was seen in the "attention being paid to the systematic cultivation of furze as food for sheep!" and the farmers of the province were encouraged "to show that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with their Southern neighbours." Such comments make the earlier days seem very far away. Agricultural and pastoral development has lately grown apace, and the end is not yet.

With the progress of the years the show itself has perhaps lost a little of its appeal to public interest among the pcoplo of the city. Of old it bulked large to practically all of them, and to visit it was one of the established duties and 'pleasures of the season. To refrain from attendance was then almost unthinkable. One did not need to have a bucolic bias'to regard it as attractive. Tho showground was a rendezvous to which all the world went. But then there were few other occasions of social reunion, and the whole city, relatively small, prized it as an opportunity of seeing how the rural region was progressing and of exhibiting its own now tastes in dress. The vogue has changed somewhat. With tho growth of tho city, the arising of secondary industries within it, the multiplying of social institutions and of competing gaieties, tho annual exhibition of farm products is no longer one of a few gala events, and thousands of urban dweUers givg it no more than passing thought. Yet, although no longc'r a focus of universal interest, it rightly holds a central place at this season in tho attention of many even for its rural features, while its increasing inclu sion of exhibits related to secondary industries enhances its attractiveness to many others. So, although .relatively neglected when its earlier absorption of the city's interest is made a basis of comparison, it is assured of ample support. Among the increased urban population are found proportionally as many eager to enjoy it, and its continuing popu larity is certain Wisely, the asso ciution has steadily added features attractive to townsfolk, and the lure of these assures that a number of people, not primarily interested in farming but induced to attend be cause of the exhibition of the thine? they like and understand, will be brought face to face with that main feature which impresses the lesson of the dependence of the town upon tho country.

On that aspect of tho show most emphasis should bo placed. It may not rank, relatively to the growth of the city, as the "immense attraction" it once was, but it has this great lesson to teach, and the lesson is very graphically taught. In contrast to the, winter show, this annual spring event is full of life. Then, the inert products of tho farm lill the eye; now it is tho livestock that dominate tho display, and they mako tho show of interest to the town-dweller as well as to the competing farmer. It is noteworthy, in ari age that has come to take "tho passing of tho horso" for granted, that the competitive' en tries in this section are moro numerous than they were. In other sections, although -tho entries have been reduced somewhat by tho clashing of the date with that of the Te Aroha Show, they still stand at a high figure, and altogether a very worthy display is provided. The total entries, when those classed as "homo industries" aro included, surpass the number reached last year. In this fact is an indication that, whatever the pessimists have had to say about an alleged falling off in farming, the heart of the pro vince is sound. A backward look to tho pioneering days is prompted by the suggestive title given by the association to this event; yet in tho assured success of the show, judged by the exhibits that mainly characterise it, is a very hopeful augury of the continued advance of the province in its staple pursuits. As this milestone is passed, the pros poet is as brishb as ever it has been, and of that the show bears convincing testimony.