FIELD COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1931, Page 3

FIELD COMPETITIONS

PRESENTATION AT OAKURA. POLSON CUP TO G. H. BELL. One of the most prominent farmers in North Taranaki for some years in farmers’ field competitions, as indeed he has been in many matters pertaining to the most progressive dairy farmers, Mr. G. H. Bell this year added to his already long list of successes that of securing championship honours with swedes. He thus captured the Polson Cup with a crop of 70 tons 14cwt to the acre—incidentally the heaviest crop weighed in competitions in the Dominion. Among his previous successes were two championships in concrete pit ensilage and one in mangolds, as well as runner-up on several occasions. For the presentation of the Polson Cup and certificates the Oakura branch of the Farmers’ Union arranged a social last night, and it attracted a large attendance. The early part of the evening was devoted to dancing, the excellent ' music being played by Martin’s orchestra. The M.C. was Mr. C. Jans. For non-dancers there was progressive euchre in the supper room under the supervision of Messrs W. K. Morris and E. Haskell. The winners were Mrs. F. Jury (after a play-off with Mrs. P. G. Knight) and Mr. F- Jury. A number of musical items were given during the evening by Misses Audrey Smith, R. Luxton and Maisie Rustling, all being recalled’ by an appreciative audience. Mrs. C. J. Harris played the accompaniments. Extras were played by Mrs. H. Corbett and C. Gray. The awards were as follow: — Swedes championship of Taranaki (heaviest crop), Polson Cup; G. H. Bell, 70 tons 14cwt. Stack ensilage: T. W. Telford I and 2, Jans Bros. 3. Mr. C. J. Harris, president of the branch of the union, apologised for the absence of Mr. Polson, the donor of the cup and Dominion President of the union, who had intended presenting the cup himself but who was ill.- The competitions, which were held throughout North Taranaki under the auspices of the union and the Agricultural Society, were, Mr. Harris considered, doing a great deal of good work in the interests of the farmers, who were learning much from them. He was sorry there were not so many entries from Oakura this yqar as previously, but that was due to unavoidable circumstances, and it was hoped that the entries would be larger this year. This was the fourth occasion on which a championship cup had come to the district through the medium of'Alr. Bell, whom lie congratulated on his success. In presenting the cup Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Fields Division of the Agricultural Department, congratulated Mr. Bell and the district on his success, pointing out that most of the more important championship: had come to Oakura, which had started the competitions in North Taranaki, though he understood that the honour of starting them in Taranaki belonged to Toko. Oakura had won the championship for pit ensilage, mangolds am. swedes, showing that the district was able to grow good root crops as well as make good ensilage. Mr. Bell’s crop of 70 tons 14 cwt of swedes was the heaviest weighed in competitions in New Zealand. Mr. Smith contrasted the keen interest taken in the competitions by farmers with the lack of interest shown in some cases at the start, showing that farmers appreciated their value. He then handed the Polson Cup to Air. Bell, congratulating him on his fine win and expressing the hope that it would not be the last time that a cup would come to Oakura. In acknowledging his pleasure at ac-. cepting the ciip on behalf of the district Mr. Bell admitted that this was not the first occasion on which he had won a championship. He expressed the hope that someone else might be successful next time. He paid a tribute to the splendid work of Mr. Harris in connection. with the competitions and Farmers Union work generally, remarking that it was probably owing to his absence from the district that Oakura had -been lax last year in regard to entries. To give an idea of what could be done by fertilising, etc., he pointed out that 17 or 18 years ago he had grown swedes on the same paddock and had taken only six or eight good dray loads off it. It had been sown down in grass since then. Mr. Smith presented certificates won in the ensilage competition. Supper was served by Mesdames C. J. Harris (president), W. K. Morris, P. G. Knight, S. Haskell and L. Brown, members of the Oakura branch of the Women’s Division. A Monte Carlo dance was ’won by Mesdames W. K. Morris and H. Corbett.