SYDNEY ROYAL SHOW SUBJECT OF REPORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19070, 15 May 1930, Page 5

SYDNEY ROYAL SHOW SUBJECT OF REPORT.

MR M. E. LYONS GIVES PARTICULARS OF VISIT.

A lengthy report on a visit to the Royal Agricultural Show at Sydney recently- was presented to the executive of the A. and P. Association yesterday afternoon by r the secretary' (Air Al. E. Lyons), who attended the show in accordance with the executive’s in-

structions. The report contained many interesting comparisons with the shows at Addington. The report was

“The Easter Show does not include sheep. Cattle, horses and pigs are the principal exhibits, though produce dogs, poultry, etc., form considerable sections. Owing to the huge size of the New South Wales undertaking, P. is particularly difficult to see it in perspective with any'- New Zealand show. “Easily the beef breeds of cattle stood out as the leading feature of the display. To a New Zealander it is regrettable that no sheep are shown, but, as members are aware, a special sheep show is held in July. The Shorthorns, Herefords and Aberdeen Angus cattle, among the beef breeds, and the lllawarras on the dairy side, are noteworthy. The Shorthorns and Aberdeen Angus contained a strong leaven of imported blood, the Australian ports being open to imported cattle. New Zealand-bred cattle were prominent in the black breed, and a Hawke’s Baybred cow was champion over Scottishbred animals. The cattle entries are considerably swelled by numbers of bulls that are entered with a view to sale purposes. The regrettable economic conditions of Australia, plus the drought conditions prevalent over a great deal of New South Wales and Victoria, caused a slump in prices at these sales. In the dairy breeds, probably with the exception of the Guernseys, the Dominion show rings are above the Australian standard. A New Zealand-bred Jersey cow led her section.

“The cattle accommodation hardly compares favourably with that at Addington, the wider avenues of our cattle pavilion contrasting favourably with the avenues of the Sydney 7 grounds. “In the horse sections the accommodation j is greatly superior to any Dominion show, the large pavilions with ample roomy loose-boxes for all classes of animals.

“The high-jumping events still attract the crowds, and it is interesting to a New Zealander to speculate upon why horses in New Zealand never attain the height possible in Sydney. A horse imported by a North Island sportsman from New South Wales some years ago, which had a 7ft record, could never be induced to do better than sft 9in. A common impression that a better light and firmer ground was responsible is not correct, as many of the best performances at Sy'dney this year were made well after 5 p.m., when the light was fading. “One of the most striking exhibits on the ground is that made by the Aletropohtan Aleat Board. This institution, practically the equivalent of our Aleat Board, has organised ,a comprehensive Aleat Industry Court. The board has erected a substantial building, and practically every branch of the meat trade is represented in it, following out the by-products of the freezing works through the secondary industry. A special veterinary section adds interest to the court, and I would place this exhibit as the most instructive one on the whole ground. It was interesting to note that six New Zealand lambs were shown in a cabinet as ty 7 pical of the best that the Dominion produces. I noticed with regret that these were drawn from the Wairarapa district and were a SouthdownRomney cross, evidently'. One lamb was very hard to fault, but the others were rather long in the shank, and I am sure that any Canterbury works could have supplied a much better half-dozen lambs than were there as representing the Dominion’s best.

“The treatment of exhibitors is a point which is of interest to those connected with show management, and the New South Wales Society do not give them any concessions beyond entrance. The horse or cattle exhibitor has a bare stall allotted, and has to buy straw for bedding and fodder, and the cost of this for the eight days the cattle are on view is expensive when added to the maintenance of attendants. Although considerable entertainment figures in the show activities, the exhibits as such do not share in this, as is customary in this Dominion. “In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge the courtesies extended to me by the Royal Agricultural Society cf New South Wales, and to thank the committee for the opportunity of visiting this great show. Though I regret to say that not many features of the Sy'dney Show could be transplanted with profit, and I have few recommendations to make in this connection, I am sure that the knowledge gained of the routine conduct of the show made the visit well worth while.” The chairman expressed the association’s thanks to Mr Lyons for his report, and said he was sure they' would benefit considerably through Air Lyons' visit.