FARMING IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 7

FARMING IN TARANAKI

CRITICISM BY STUDENTS WERE THEY SHOWN BEST FARMS? HOW WAS THE TOUR ORGANISED? QUALITY OF SWINE HUSBANDRY. ' (To the Editor). Sir,—ln your Monday’s issue appeared the somewhat disappointing comments of the party of Massey College students touring the North Island in search of information on farming methods. I do not know who was responsible for the planning of the tour in Taranaki, but I do feel that justice was not done to (as the students said) the oldest dairying district in New Zealand. > It was just a little unfortunate that the students’ opinions of Taranaki operations should have been reported before the completion of the tour, as they had evidently based their opinions on the grassland aspect before they had seen the beautiful farms and wonderful grassland of Messrs. J. Blyde, Paulger and Fussell, noted throughout New Zealand, where they would have no doubt received a very different impression. ■ ; . • > Then again, Massey College specialises in the Tamworth pig. The students’ impressions of our pig husbandry were not a very good one. Can one ask without disnaragement, were they shown our best studs? Take our show, records as a guide to where the best pigs are. The points prize at Hawera was won by Mr. R. Weeden, Pukearuhe. The leading prize points were also won by the same man at Stratford show. And when Mr. Hale was demonstrating throughout Taranaki he stated that Mr. Weeden’s layout and pigs were the best he had seen in the district. . And what about the last New Plymouth show? The best judges considered that the New Plymouth show was one of the best shows in New Zealand; certainly the best anywhere last year. Taking all the facts into consideration one might ask whether these visitors were taken to any of these leading, prize-winning studs, where they would have realised that Taranaki pigs can hold their’ own with the best. I am a little .afraid our tourist trade and the' marketing of our produce are much in need of an overhaul, and that until those responsible put a bit of vim into their organising Taranaki will not be in the hunt. —I am, etc., I ‘ ORGANISE.