THE OTAGO WINTER SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 12

THE OTAGO WINTER SHOW.

The fact that winter is upon us denotes the advent of the season’s ag. icultural and pastoral shows, and we realise that for the nonce agriculture has the whole-hearted sympathy of the urban interest. It is an old saying with French people that agricultural and pastoral production are the two breasts of the nation. So also with us. No manufacturing process can last unless it is based on the production of raw materials and foodstuffs. Show time is one of those periods of the year when the urban consumer and the produce; represent a community of interests and meet together, maybe to discuss amongst other things the wide differences in the prices received by the farine. compared with what the consumer has paid in some cases for essential commodities. There is no doubt that not the least advantage promoted by the holding of winter shows is that they increase the urban interest in farming. This is of first importance if we are to stave off the drift to the towns. Hence the agricultural and pastoral shows should be made both educative and arresting in the inteiests of the whole of the people in town and country. Sheepmen have had a good year, and it is certain that the wool exhibits at the Otago Winter Show will be satisfactory in respect to both quality and quantity. Stock owners also will furnish enough quality lambs, sheep, and cattle to tax the space available, while it is anticipated that most of the other sections will bulk up well ere the closing of the entries. °

In regard to the export classes of factory cheese and butter, entries for which were placed in cool * store last month, we are in a position to state that the competition is meagre and the entries disappointingly small, and numerically do not do justice to the great daiiying industry in the South Island. This lack of enterprise on the part of directors of factories or managers, as the case may be, is to be deplored. The schedule of prizes of the annual Winter Show is framed on generous lines, and yet we find that out of some 100 factories in the South Island competition is limited to well under a dozen factories in the export classes. Otago province represents 30 per. cent., Southland 4 per cent, of its factories’ and Canterbury nil. Why this apathy on the part of the majority of the factories? Dairymen have had a good year in spite of the vagaries of the weather during the early part of the season. The output of milk products this year in Otago is ahead of last season, and the quality, we understand, has been fairlv good. About 75 per cent, of the cheese graded for export will be classed as first grade,” but butter ex Otago port has been graded as high as 90 per cent. finest.”

In view of the foregoing we might fairly anticipate good if not record entries, but no. There must be some good reasons why the export classes do not evoke competition. We may ask if the directors of factories encourage their managers to make entries, and whether the shareholders, the suppliers of milk, take a stimulating interest in the quality of the cheese and butter makes of their respective factories? In some instances we were astounded to learn that the managers of companies make the entries and pay the entry money. They, certainly, if their exhibit wins, secure the prize money, but we suggest that directors of companies might with advantage consider the feasibility of paying the modei ate entry fees on 'behalf of° the companies competing. Indeed, we would go further, and suggest to the directors that they make it compulsory that their managers should make at least one entry at the metropolitan winter shows. The advantage of seeing how the various factoi ies makes of cheese in competition were graded by the experts would be in the nature of a tonic to all concerned. Some such method would, serve as an incentive to the making of qualitv cheese. It is necessary for the good of the dairying industry that alhconcerned should do their best to visualise the export of dairy produce in all its aspects, and do what ♦•hey can to encourage the possible dor-

mant enthusiasm of the managers of factories in the South Island. It is a question whether agricultural and pastoral societies will long continue to offer handsome prizes unless the directors of factories realise the position. It rests in great measure with them to promote competition. It may possibly be that the schedule of classes at the local winter shows does not meet with the approval of factory managers. If so, this could be easily remedied. It may so happen that more classes are necessai y in order to evoke competition from both large and small factories, and so avoid the clashing, of entries drawn from sources in which one or other may have the advantage. This is a matter, however, which can suiely be adjusted in fairness to all likely competitors. The main thing is to find out why it is that factories do not exhibit freely, and the; endeavour to meet the position. If the managers of the various factories were to discuss the matter with the A. and P. committees it should be possible to so a; range the export cheese and butter classes that this section would again be featured—as it should be—as one of the best sections of a winter show.