WAIKATO WINTER SHOW

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13751, 26 April 1918, Page 7

WAIKATO WINTER SHOW

WONDERFUL ORGANISATION.

Tito many thousands of people who attend the Waikato Winter Show each year perhaps hardly realise the huge amount of organisation work involved before it is brought to successful fruition. They visit the exhibition, exclaim in admiration at the number, quality and variety of the many exhibits, pay tribute to their educational value, and remark, "What a splendid Show—getting better every year! No other like it in New Zealand!" They then express their determination to come again next year, and to induce their friends to do the same. And all the while there is very little thought for "the man behind the gun"—little realisation of all the hard work necessary to bring about such a satisfactory result.

As stated by the secretary in a foreword to the 1918 schedule, the Waikato Winter Show Association is an organisation devoted to the interest of the farmer and ttie public generally. Its purposes are educational, inspirational and entertaining. The main purpose, however, is to encourage the exhibition of farm products in all their sideration for the commercial, educational, and domestic interests of the branches with the same relative concommunity. The N.Z. Farmer of a recent date says: "The Waikato Winter Show is now regarded as one of the leading dairying and agricultural fixtures of the Dominion. The management has just issued the dairy factory division prizelist. It is easily the most attractive and up-to-date prize schedule of a show and the best boom for such a fixture that has been issued in the Dominion. The secretary, Mr W. H. Paul, is to be congratulated upon his capacity to advertise Ins show to the best advantage. The schedule is not merely a list of the great prizes being offered for factory butter and cheese, but is a guide to the show and a tempting invitation to factory managers to patronise the big Waikato .fixture."

This year a prominent place is being given to school work, and much time and thought have been devoted by the organisers to this section, which includes agricultural and horticultural classes, laundry work, cookery, Nature study, wood and metal work, trade drawing, writing, mapping, freehand drawing, brush drawing, modelling, physical drill competitions, sewing, etc. Could anything be more complete? The friendly competition between the boys and girls should have a far-reaching effect, not only in encouraging improved work, but in fostering a spirit of industry. The Association is deserving of the warmest commendation for its efforts in this direction. The compilation of such a section has entailed much detail work, of course, but the result should amply repay the lahour expended. In the many other sections of the schedule the same thoroughness is ap- | parent, evidencing much care on the part of those concerned. The amount of work involved in the arrangement and management of the Show must be enormous. Apart from the numerous classes, which must be carefully gone into and the conditions governing same considered from every aspect, there is a vast amount of circularising and printing to be done, people to be interviewed, inquiries answered, and arrangements made for every little detail connected with the exhibits. Then there is the entertainment sideand the allotment of space for sideshows, etc. This requires much careful thought and organising ability on the part of the person carrying out the work. There are a thousand and one other duties, all of which must be given their due meed of attention. The committee of the Winter Show Association are evidently men of ability. They are throwing themselves into the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and everything points to the Show exceeding the success of previous years—and that is saying much. But, as is always the case, the bulk of the work falls upon the secretary. In Mr W. H. Paul the Association undoubtedly has the right man for this onerous position. He'has thrown himself into the work with whole-hearted energy, and with an enthusiasm which is good to see. With his pronounced organising ability the affairs of the Association could not be in better

lands, and as a result of the close at.ention which he is giving to everything affecting its welfare it is likely

that" the Winter Show of 1918 will prove record-breaking in every respect. The secretary's work is not only of local importance, but will have a direct influence upon the wellbeing and growth of the Waikato district, and incidentally of the whole Dominion.