OTAGO A. AND P. SHOW.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 4

OTAGO A. AND P. SHOW.

(Fiiday's Daily Times.) The summer show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, which was opened at Tahuna Park on Thursday, affords, as the annual show always does, a very good illustration of the development of the farming industries of the colony. This consists not -'merely in the collection of cattle and sheep of high quality and splendid condition, but also in the excellent display which was made of implements 'and machinery. Indeed, the comprehensive exhibition which the society's grounds held yesterday of agricultural appliances was the most striking feature of the day. It is doubtful whether the society has ever had a better display of implements. On the other hand, it is certain that it has had better, in the" respect of more numerous, displays of cattle and sheep. Both classes of stock command an exceptional value at the present time. And when we find that, notwithstanding this circumstance, there is a shrinkage in the number of exhibits in each section we are tempted to inquire whether the farming community is supporting the societ}' to the extent it should, and whether it realises the advantages of the shows which the society's officials," at the expenditure of infinite trouble, annually organise and manage. It may be argued that the stormy weather of which Otago has lately had more than a fair share has prevented owners from giving to their stock the finish that is supposed to be necessary in order to make them fit for the show-pens, but, nowever much weight niay be attached to this plea, it is plain that it is not a sufficient explanation to account for the paucity of entries and dulness of competition in some classes, and for the lack .of exhibits in other classes. The perusal of the catalogue might lead a person who was not otherwise informed to suppose that Mr "Watson Shennan and Mr Kobert Turnbull were the only breeders of merino sheep in Otago, and that in regard to the strong combing strain Mr Turnbull had the field entirely to himself, or that Messrs Little Bros, and Mr J. S. Holmes were the only . breeders of Border Leicssters, and that Mr A. Murdoch had a 'monopoly of English j Leicesters, or that there were no other sheep owners in this portion of the colony excepting the New Zealand aa4

Australian Land Company and Mr Holmes who give their attention to the breeding of Lincoln sheep. " -Of course, it is not so. But the flockowners we have named, who constitute the entire list of exhibitors in these respective classes!, have the reputation, justly earned, of being successful breeders of sheep of the special varieties shown by them, and it is more than likely that their reputation prevents farmers with smaller flocks and more limited resources from entering into competition with them. If this be so, while it does not explain why there should be fewer sheep exhibited this year than there were last year, it is, at all events, a fairly reasonable explanation of ths absence of competition in some classes, and of the competition in others being restricted to two exhibitors onty. And in that case it is questionable whether the society should not consider the propriety of encouraging the small, farmer, whose active support it desires, to exhibit at the show. This end might possibly be accomplished by the institution of classes for which entries should be exclusively received

from farmers, with, if necessary (though this Y&xy not ba advisable), a limit upon the size of the farm, and by the addition also to the catalogue of classes for exhibitors who have not previously competed. In the cattle classes, as well as in the sheep, it is found that successful exhibitors frighten others out of the field, but not to the same extent as in the sheep classes. Fortunately it will be found to-day that it is quite different in regard to horses. Otago has always more than held her own in her shows of horseflesh, and the entries which the society has received for this year's competitions promise the sight of finer rings than have been seen at Tahuna Park for several seasons. There is no reason, other than the apathy of breeders or theii" want of confidence in their stock or their lack of courage, why the competition in most of the classes for cattle and sheep should not be cqixally keen as that in the classes for horses.

It has been a gratifying circumstance in recent years that on the second day of the show the attendance of the piiblic has been very .large. When the attractiveness of the show itself, the proximity of the show ground to town, and the abundance of the means of conveyance to the park are considered, this circumstance cannot excite surprise. The arrangements for the show are invariably well ordered, and on the " People's Day " there are special features in the programme which are of considerable interest. The residents of the town obtain altogether exceedingly good value at the show for the modest price they pay for admission to the park. After all, the show is a display of the results of town industries almost as much as it is a display of the wealth of the farming industries. It is certain that it is only by developing the productiveness of the country that the town can progress. But there is convincing evidence in the exhibits at Tahuna Park of the important part which the town plays in promoting the progress of the country. The mechanic who is employed in the construction of some of the . ingenious and marvellous labour-saving machines which are to be seen in 6peration at the show performs a service as valuable in the development of the .country as is rendered by the farm labourer who follows the plough. The town and country are obviously interdependent. And for that reason the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's show should cominatid the support of the inhabitant of the town just as much as that of the dweller in the country.