The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1925. A PUBLIC DUTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16655, 21 November 1925, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1925. A PUBLIC DUTY.

If a line is desired on the productivity of a district one. of the most reliable guides on which to frame that conclusion is the annual agricultural and 'pastoral display. The Waikato has always had reason to claim a good deal of praise for the quality of its cattle, horses and sheep, which fact was further supported in the classes that were penned in the various sections of the Show at Claudelands this week. By this it is not intended to infer that the Alpha and Omega in the matter of quality has been reached, but to give credit for a uniformly good standard. The judges even went further than this, and made pointed mention of the fact that many of the prize-winning animals would have performed with credit in competition at a Royal Show. It is pleasing to have this tribute from the experts among the particular breeds, which will be an incentive for the owners of these high-class pedigree animals to seek honours in the more advanced grade of show competition, for which the various district shows are, or should be, the recruiting grounds. While the support extended to the Waikato Association in the past has been liberal, it will continue to be the aim of the controlling organisation to increase the interest in the various competitions and in showing in general. There are many breeders, speaking generally, in every district who fail to class the annual agricultural and pastoral display in the order of importance that it is rightly heir to. Every farmer' should rivet his attention upon it and the wholehearted united effort will mean more numerous which will be stronger in numbers and even greater in quality than they arc to be found at present. The Association’s endeavours can only go to certain lengths. They can place the aims and objects of their institution before every farmer. The active interest must, however, be of the latter’s volition. Competition is the life of trade in the commercial realm. The same should be the slogan followed in connection with stock showing. While fine results have been achieved in the past so far as the Waikato, and the agricultural and pastoral displays of every district for that matter, are concerned, they could be increased to a marked extent if farmers as a \vhole made the showing of their stock a prominent feature of their operations. Not only would they be helping their particular Association, but they would be extending a forward push to the district which should be their patriotic concern. This is one or the genuine avenues by which love of district and zeal for its progress can lie achieved with coordinating benefits to the individual and the community. The appreciation that the district as a whole would desire to express towards the selfsacrificing labours of the Show officials finds its best tribute in the successful r C | U rns of the exhibition conducted at Claud elands this week. While on the subject of show patronage, attention might be drawn to ihc. fact that there

arc erring ones to be found in every community. Waikato is not singular in this respect. An exhibition of this nature is a test of civic pride, or should be. This is a trait to which the most unassuming mortal likes to lay claim, but we are cognisant of many iri our midst who fail in practice to fuifd their boast in theory. The show should have the support of all sections of a community; it belongs to all and, in the financial sense at anyrate, every association reads its barometer by the measure of public patronage that is extended towards every annual display.