THE WAIKATO SHOW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6871, 15 July 1909, Page 3

THE WAIKATO SHOW

A VERY SUCCESSFUL ISSUE. The winter show of the Waikato has been in many quarters described as an exhibition worthy of the district, and a credit to its promoters. Already it occupies a commanding position among the winter shows of tho Dominion. La a comparison made between last week’s fixture and that of the previous year the president, Mr J. S. Bond, said the figures were most encouraging, and in comparison with the last winter show the increases all round were notable. The gate receipts tfiis year amounted to XIB4 as compared with .£330 last year, showing an increase of .£155. The receipts from members were X 125, as contrasted with X7l the year before, which meant a very remarkable increase of XSL There was also an increase of .£l5O in the receipts for space. The total increase in receipts this year, therefore, amounted to no less than <£3so. He had no hesitation in asserting that the effect of the show would bo to improve the value of land in the district by XI an acre. (Applause.) Twenty-five thousand persons had been admitted to the show during the week, and the result would prove to the people of New Zealand the character and resources of the Waikato. A SOUTHERN OPINION.

Speaking to a reporter of the Waikato "Times" on the' show a Manawatu visitor said he could not be so disloyal to his own district as to admit that the Waikato show eclipsed that of Palmerston, but he would say that for the popularity of the exhibition Hamilton could teach them a lesson. "You all seem to go into it so whole-heartedly,” he said, "and if that is only kept up there is nothing that is impossible. It would not surprise me to learn that nest year, if your dairying exhibits are strengthened, you are on a parallel with us, and the year after exceed us. When people are united for one end there is nothing they cannot achieve, and I shall take back with mo a lesson in unity that I shall preach in my district for a year, and then see what the result will be. lam glad I came. to Hamilton and have seen your show because it has taught me much. I will not make a straight-out comparison because I. think it would be safer for me not to do so, but I will say that your show has far exceeded my expectations, and that it has a wide and important future before it. I think the district is to be congratulated on its work as illustrated at your show. There should be no uneasy feeling about the future. Of course, I have not been out of Hamilton to see your lands,, but that is not necessary when I can see its products under one roof. . Whatever the land may be it has been demonstrated that by careful husbandry it can produce yields equal to, if not surpassing, anything I have ever seen in New Zealand, and I am a .colonist of many years' standing.”