PALMERSTON WINTER SHOW.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5310, 23 June 1904, Page 4

PALMERSTON WINTER SHOW.

Opinions may differ as to the supremacy cl tho summer shows—whether pride of place belongs to Christchurch or Palmerston—but there is no room to doubt tho supremacy of Palmerston among the winter shoves of tho colony. The Mnutlet of Lands, who is a good judge of these questions, had no difficulty in assigning the palm for both summer and winter to Palmerston, and in language of an emphatic character. Nevertheless, most people will not go quite so far, and foi Iho present Palmerston can only be regarded as first without question in winter. To those who remember' tho place fifteen years ago, the sight of tho exhibits on Tuesday must have inspired thoughts akin to those suggested by tho publication in our issue of Monday ot the account of tho reception of tho new Governor and his lady side by side with tho picture ot old Wellington, after one of the best examples of tho brush o. the late Major Heaphy. Fifteen veal's ago, if thero were any exhibits ot tho dairy industry, they were merely sufficient to show forth tho absolute ignorance of tho dairying community; now, tho show is, as Mr Duncan said, “ an object lesson to the whole colony. 5 ’ There was to be seen there everything required on a dairy farm; everything produced, and everything that ought to bo thought about and provided. Most important of all, there were examples of the enterprise and enlightened methods of the dairy industries of New Zealand. The management of tho show was, moreover, unhesitatingly pronounced by dir Crewe, the Victorian representative, to he, in tho most important respect, superior beyond comparison to the management of tho corresponding show of the State of Victoria. -The Palmerston winter show is, in fact, a typical example of Now Zealand methods; for in ah tho departments of colonial life, from one end of this country to tho other, the same note of up-to-date thoroughness is to be heard. Palmerston has long agitated for the establishment of a Dairy School in its neighbourhood, and not many months ago the Premier promised that this wish would be given effect to, though nothing has yet been done. Tho most interesting of all tho ex hibits were the different butters, the quality of which was shown by the largo number of the makers who came out with high honours. It is regrettable that no one managed to reach " the possible ” in marks. The suggestion has been made that the failure to get higher than D-l was due to tho fact that tho butters had been in tho cold store for two months. If that be the correct reason, then it will be difficult for our butters ever to command top price In distant markets. Tho object of our makers, however, ought to be to bring their output up to the level of the very best Danish. The more reasonable explanation of the present disparity is that there is still room for improvement in tho making. By improved methods and increased care our dairy farmers have within a few years raised New Zealand butter to the premier position with regard to the colonial product, which was formerly held by Victoria. Wo feel sure that the enterprise and intelligence of the dairy farmers of this country will before long effect further improvement. Then will the butter exhibited be as perfect as the other exhibits which so greatly excited the admiration of the Minister of Lands. Those were exhibits of roots and fodder plants, declared by the Minister to be. not so necessary as they aro elsewhere, owing to the superior grass of the North, or rather to its longer duration during the year. As evidence, however, of tho capacity of these districts to carry far more stock than they are carrying now, these exhibits are very interesting; and this leads to the comfortable reflection that when prices fall our farmers can meet the drop with an increase of output. - One leading feature of the show was the enterprising spirit evident in every direction. First among the signs was tho excellence of this very progressive fixture. Then came the butter competition we have been discussing. Next to strike the visitor was the very useful competition inaugurated by tho New Zealand Factory Butter and Cheese Makers' Association. The fourth of the better signs was the co-called school competition; though why a competition that has no connection whatever with any school or any scholar is supposed to be a school competition it is not easy to imagine. A change of name

here would avoid further misleading of the public, without making the show less popular. Lastly, there was the vast variety of the trade exhibits, the excellence of which was proved hy the numerous sales recorded. This practical proof of tlie readiness of the people to acquire the bo.-t appliances obtainable affords reason for believing that titc good advice of the Minister will he followed in the matter of the improvement of the dairy herds. Mr Duncan spoke a groat truth when he said that, the best way to meet depression is by increase of output; and there is no- surer and at the same lime cheaper way of increasing output than by improving the breed of dairy stock.