SYMBOLLIC OF INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1930, Page 16

SYMBOLLIC OF INDUSTRY

DAIRY WEALTH OF STRATFORD SHOW REFLECTS PROSPERITY / Illustrating four main factors —the wealth and productivity of the land, the mechanical ingenuity of man, the enterprise of merchants, and the development of art and industry—there is something of special significance for everybody in the displays that compete for prominence in the courts of the Stratford Winter Show. Now in full swing and'attracting crowds of sightseers each day and evening, the show is symbolic of the great dairying industry on which, as far as the town of Stratford is immediately concerned, much of the prosperity depends. It represents the labours of the farmer and the means he is employing to attain his ends. It displays necessary articles which he may buy with the monetary reward of his labours and carries his attention to the amenities with which he may surround his family or endow his home. The industry presents the cause; the show illustrates the effect.

YEARS OF STEADY PROGRESS

ENTRIES VERY NUMEROUS. HIGH STANDARD OF EXHIBITS. To many it is given to look backward over years of steady progress. They agree that the results have been wonderful, and, as advancing age coupled with the fruits of experience enhance their good opinion of the district, so

they rejoice to see, in orderly ranks, displays of produce bigger and better than the produce grown before. The pioneers laid the foundation of Stratford’s prosperity, but the following generations are raising a fine structure of progress so that, as the industry expands, the marketing centre develops. ’The future is bright with promise, a ‘ reflection of which is to be found in , the significance of all things that go to make up the show. An almost endless variety of exhibits are crammed into the 50,000 square ’ feet of floor space and entries in competitive sections are well up to the standard of the show. Conceived seven years ago by four or five poultry fanciers the first show was purely a

method whereby fanciers might further the interests of their chosen hobby, and it came into existence as the Stratford Poultry Show, held iff’ the Town Hall.

The following year the committee launched out on more ambitious lines by introducing root displays and side shows into the 1926 show, but the greater measure of success which attended the innovation only served to point to the possibilities of further expansion. By the courtesy of Messrs. Kleeman and Bishop and E?H. Eason the 1927 show was housed in their premises, where the large floor’ area was adapted the pur-

pose, and where a much -greater crowd was accommodated.

In 1928, anticipations of progress were more than realised. Extra space was gained by building at the rear of the garages and a portion of Miranda Street was railed off to accommodate the larger side-shows. In all 9416 people attended this display and last year again the public attended in eqrially large numbers.

With a show largely built upon the enthusiasm of a few poultry fanciers, it is natural that the Stratford show should still include a comprehensive display of all kinds of domestic birds. Today there are 529 entries in the poultry section, as against 552 last year. In addition, ducks total 59 as against 70,

pigeons 98 as against 191, cagebirds 13 and rabbits 23. There were no eagebirds or rabbits shown last year. The decrease in pigeons and poultry is due to the dates of the Hastings show falling so closely upon those at Stratford, many intending exhibitors not being able to arrange for suitable transport in time to show at both. Nevertheless,j the total entries in this section have fallen by only 91, the figures being 722 as against 813. On the other hand, the field and

garden entries disclose a great iorwarc bound. There are nearly twice as manj as there were for 1929 —615 as against 391. With 352 entries in the home in dustries section there are just two mon than last year, but the fancy and ari classes have fallen appreciably. The photographic section and the scouts classes contain the same number of ex hibits, but there is a falling off in the school section, where the new arrangements for exhibiting the work were apparently not fully appreciated, lieviewed as a whole, there are 2207 entries compared with 2399 last year, but the articles so far received are so rich in quality that a splendid display, a credit to Central Taranaki, is assured.

To-day, the poultry show will be thrown open to the public. Friday will be children’s day and the show will end on Saturday evening. The show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., but on Saturday it will remain open continuously until 11 p.m. There will be special trains at railway excursion fares from north and south.

As a grand finale, Saturday should see a large crowd in Stratford for it marks the meeting of the two-leading teams in the northern football competition. Stratford is one point ahead of the improving Old Boys team and already there is a great deal of speculation as to the result of this battle for supremacy.