MARTON A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 4 March 1920, Page 5

MARTON A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

EIGHTH ANNUAL SHOW.

The fates have been kind. This Association held its annual Show yesterday, and for tb,e eighth year in succession,, was favoured with tine weather. There was a very good attendance of the public and entries generally, though not constituting 1 a record, were very good, and gave an indication of the wealth of the district as a stock producing centre. Prominent among the officials who worked for the success of the Show was Mr Alex Stuart, who assumed the responsibilities of the President, Mr J McDonell, ’who is still suffering from the effects of an accident in the hunting field some months ago. Mr H. R. Gaisford, a strenuous worker, is also responsible for much of the success of the Show. The secretarial arrangements were in the capable hands of Mr J. Robson, and all other officials worked hard. The Blanket Society had a rest tent for ladies and children, which was much appreciated. Marton Municipal Brass Band rendered a programme which was also appreciated, and numerous side shows added a further attraction. The licensed booth was in the capable bands of Mr S W R Evans, of the New Royal Hotel, Palmerston. There was a great showing of horses, and the draughts and ponies were particularly good. Many visitors expressed the opinion that there were sufficient entries and quality of stock to warrant a horse show being held. Mr Jas. Bull was again the only exhibitor in thoroughbred stallions, and his entry, All Red, which was awarded champion last year, was very much admired. Mr G D Beatson’s Royal Stag was awarded the championship for champion hack. Entries in cattle wore not large, bnt the quality was good. Dr. Watson won a reserve champion for his 8-year-old Jersey bull, and in the opiriion of the judge Mr R L Horn’s Owler of Puketapu, which was a winner last year, promises to develop into a bull of good quality. The entries of Messrs Milligan, R L Horn and Dr. Watson in heifer calved since Ist July, 1917, were of good quality, and there was not much to judge between them. Dr. Watson’s Derelict of Bulls was regarded as a particularly fine animal. Mr P Nesbit was the only exhibitor in Holsteins. Ayrshires resulted in a competition between Mr G McFarland (Aorangi) and Moumahaki State Farm, and the latter won the points prize In Milking Shorthorns Mr P Ross Walker won the special prize for bull, and Mr W Brady for heifer. Aberdeen Angus failed to attract any entries, and Mr Birch was the only competitor in Devons. Messrs E McFarland and G Milligan were the only competitors in grade Jerseys and the judge regarded the latter’s entries as choice. He had never seen a better collection from one breeder. The entries in crossbred cattle were good, the prizewinners as a rule being above the average. Mr T A won the Gaisford Silver Gup last year for fat cattle, was again a winner, and the Oup becomes his property. The contest in Lincolns lay between Mr S. Ooombe and Mr J Wilson. The judge regarded the entries as very fair, the weather having been against a better exhibit. The animals were deficient in bone. The MoKelvie Challenge Cop, .won in 1919 by Mr S Coombe was again won by the exhibitor, and he retains the trophy. Mr -Wilson ran him very close. Romney Marsh attracted big entries, many of which were very good, standing out on their own, but some were not up to standard. An exhibition of Ryelands by Moumahaki State Farm attracted considerable attention. Entries in Border Leicesters wore small, the Moumahaki Estate and Mr H F Arkwright being the only competitors. Sir James G. Wilson had the field in Shropshires i to himself. The sheep were of a very ; good type and to character, and I the judge regretted that there was ' not more competition. Mr G E Vile j was the only exhibitor in Southdowns, and won the New Zealand 1 Sbeepbreeders’ Association’s gold medal, and disappointment was expressed that the Moumahaki State Farm did not compete. The entry was a good one, and would compare with any shown at any other Show. The points prize in fat sheep and lambs combined was won by Mr Jas. McKelvie, who takes the special £5 5s prize donated bythe,N. Z, Refrigerator Go., and also retains the ten guinea cup presented by Mr J McDonell. In the fat sheep classes the exhibits were well up to standard and in some cases well above the average. Many of the exhibits in fat lambs for export were not correct weight. In this class Mr Jas. McKevlie again secured the points < prize, a silver cup, and also Mr L. [ M. Richards’ special. Some of the exhibits in fat lambs (not for export) were also overweight. In the class three fat lambs, in wool, Down I crosses over 501bs, Sir Jas. G. Wil- i son’s winning entry was regarded as exceptionally well finished and matched. The exhibits in this class were the best the judge had seen in any Show in New Zealand. The points prize went to Mr Jas. McKelvie. The entries in flock sheep, farmers’ classes, were regarded as particularly good all through. The points prize was secured by Messrs W. Reid and Son The competitions were well contested* and proved very I interesting. Mr G. Smith rode first I aqd second horse in the Open i Hunters, and Miss Riddiford won the prize for riding the winner in the Ladies’ jumping and also a special prize donated by Mr G. Wiuton for best lady rider. Among the tradesmen’s exhibits was a tine display of Indian motor cycios by Messrs Blackman Bros. The home industries section was not very well represented owing, probably, to the shortage of sugar, but the few exhibits were of high quality. Very little fruit was shown, but the exhibition of vegetables was a strong one and excited muon interest. It came as a disappointment to many that a school section was not included. The'Grand Parade marshalled hy Mr H. J. Gameron was an imposing spectacle, the magnificent horses showing to great advantage. Just prior to the luncheon, Mr A. Stuart addressed the gathering on behalf of the President (Mr J. McDoueK) who is still suffering from the effects of an accident in the hunting field. He thanked ail for the support accorded the Association. It was hard v/ork to get support, unless as he humorously suggested, they could got the assistance of the' Government in getting the totalieatbr- (Laughter). He thought people

were going ’in too much for racing 'fend pleasure. They should .be thankful that they were living in a most beautiful and fair country. Ha, again thanked them for their support which was a reward for the labour' of the committee. He also thanked the judges who had come long distances, and asked the Mayor to officially open the Show. His Worship the Mayor, Mr Wm O Kensington, I.S 0., then spoke. He stated that in the absence of the Minister of Agriculture who unfortunately was unable to be present, he had been asked to try; to till the gap by opening the Eighth Show of the Association. Looking hack eight years one realized that the opening Show by Mr Massey, the present Prime Minister, heralded a series of Shows whicn have all well held their own, even those Shows so wisely continued by the Managing Committee during the long and weary war, when so many persons advised their being discontinued. The wisdom of continuing the Show during the war period was manifest, because directly they dropped the annual Show it was impossible to resuscitate it. The Managing Committee was most fortunate in being able, through the generous help of the Marton Jockey Club, to hold their successive Show for eight years upon the well appointed grounds of the Jockey Club, an advantage which had been of incalculable benefit to the Association. He believed that the entries this year did not quite come up in number to those of last year, but many of the entries were of even better quality. The question had been asked if there were too many Agricultural Shows. This was best answered by referring to the published stock statistics of Rangitikel County which showed Cattle 68,686, sheep 867,004, lambs 420,035, horses 7832. Sheep and . lambs total 1,001,889. There were only one or two Counties in the North Island which could beat this record. Therefore with two Shows for the County —Taihape in the north and Marton in the south—both had ample stocks to draw from. The Marton Agricultural and Pastoral Show had a live and enthusiastic committee, and he hoped every success would follow them. (Applause.) Mr E Newman, member for Manawatu, followed, and he expressed regret that the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Nosworfchy, was unable to attend. He also referred to the absence of the member for the district, Mr Glenn, who was on a Parliamentary trip to Samoa. He referred to the gratifying progress the Show had made since its inception eight years ago. He spoke of the prosperity which had come to the Country as the result of the war, and he believed it would continue. Farmers must bear in mind that prosperity was a result of high prices, but that production in staple industries was going down. If they wee going to increase their prosperity they must increase production. But there could not be increased production until they had more labour. The prosecution of public works should be proceeded with —hydro-electric scheme, railways, construction of roads and bridges, and the bousing problem. Farmers did not object to high wages, because they recognised that without labour it was impognble to progress. They had sold produce at a price offered hy the Imperial Government, and as long as the Imperial Government were making a profit they did not object, but they objected to profiteering at Home. The time had arrived when they might claim “free” markets Owing to Government control farmers had been compelled to sell hides at half export value, so that people might have cheap footwear. But where were the boots? Australia was buying hides and bringing back hoots under the price of the New Zealand manufacturers. This was a subject for inquiry. Referring to the glut in the meat market he Assured them that theie was no fear that the Government would not do its duty. Sir Thomas Mackenzie was one of the best men they could get to look after tbeir interests, and he thought it v c. aid be better to get his term extended to look after the meat trades, i-i j did not favour the commisb "m, aud emphasised the necessity ' r ail farmers and producers to comb. 3 and combat the shipping rings, .vhich he regarded as the most serious menace threatening the Dominion. Producers must insist on getting a voice in settling freights and charges on goods for export and import, otherwise the country would be strangled by the slapping combine. The Moat Trust was bad enough, hut the slapping ring was a more direct danger to us it. New Zealand than the Meat Trust. Farmers should rally round their representatives, and take steps to meet and discuss the question as requested hy the Prime Minister without delay, and bring down some scheme by which control of our produce will not remain in the hands of any combination of shipowners. Government was in sympathy with produucers and now was the time to act and act effectively. The speaker referred to the great importance of dairying, which be pointed out was going to be a success if only farmers would grow the necessary feed. Rangitikei compared favourably witn any part of New Zealand for dairying, The speaker concluded by con gratulatiug them on Rangitikei being represented by Mr W. Glenn, a young farmer, who would worthily represent them. Results