FARMERS’ COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 August 1930, Page 11

FARMERS’ COMPETITIONS

PRIZES PRESENTED AT QKATO. : The presentation of the trophies won in the farmers’ competitions in the I Okato district were made at a social evening in Hempton hall last night. In spite of the inclement weather conditions the interest taken in the movement proved a sufficient inducement to attract a large attendance. Cards were the populai - pastime of many, but the younger people found dancing more in their line and they were provided with a fine programme of music by Miss. L, Gilhooly, while Mr. L. O Sullivan as master of ceremonies kept the dancers on the move," The victories at cards were, won by Mrs. Bert Andrews and Mr. Norman Andrews. The cards tournament was in the hands of Mr. N. Corbett.

A splendid supper was provided by the ladies’ committee and following refreshments the prize-giving ceremony took place. Apologising for the unavoidable absence of the • chairman of the Okato Farmers’ Union, Air. L. Hickford, the deputy-chairman, Air. W. J. Bridgeman, welcomed those present, and remarked upon the high average and aggregate standard attained in the competitions by the farmers of the district. Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture, offered his congratulations to the Okato farmers on the showing they had made in the competitions. There was no doubt that they were taking up J;he work whole-heartedly. - Their achievements were clearly shown in the records of the season’s judging. Okato farming people could feel proud that out of all the entries received for stock ensilage the district had won second, third and fourth prizes and their entries were beaten only by_a stack of outstanding quality. It was the.same; in the other classes. No. first prizes in, provincial competition had come to j Okato, but the district was “knocking | at the door” and he felt sure that ' through the experience. they had gained ] Okato farmers would achieve even great-] er successes in the following seasons, i However, the farmers of the district j could be hopeful in their prospects of ] winning the coveted points prize and, | with the judging practically completed,' Okato held a slight lead over the other districts , i

The chairman of the North Taranaki Farmers’ Union, Mr. H. E. Blyde, endorsed the congratulations. He considered such an improvement to. be a monument to the enthusiasm with which the farmers of the district? entered the competitions, and it wtis 'remarkable that such a high degree of efficiency had been attained after only 'two years in the competition. This was due in large part to activities of the chairman and secretary of the Okato branch of the Farmers’ Union, Messrs. L. Hiekford and C. G. Cocksedge respectively. He reminded them that the real value of the competitions lay not in winning trophies but in their educational benefit, and those who felt a little “down” because they had not succeeded should not be discouraged. “What your neighbours •.an do,” he continued, “so can you do.” Mr. Blyde presented the following trophies with their attendant certificates: H. J. Paul, staek ensilage, first, second, third and challenge cup; swedes, second and points prize (having won the stack ensilage cup last year, Mr. Paul takes this trophy outright); W. Bridgeman, swedes and challenge cup, hillside stack ensilage first, pit ensilage first; J. Carey, hay first; J. Hansen, hay second, hillside stack ensilage second; G. Benton, mangolds first; Airs. A. A. Woolbridge, mangolds second. Reference was made to Mr. H. J. Paul’s record an winning the stack ensilage cup outright and ho was cheered. A vote of thanks was accorded Afr. W. Bridgeman, who bad had. the cups engraved. A merry social evening coutiinied until after midnight.