PORK AND BACON.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 18589, 30 May 1935, Page 8

PORK AND BACON.

WINTER SHOW COMPETITIONS.

INTEREST TO FARMERS. Arranged with the object of enabling breeders and feeders to turn -out the right type of pork and bacon carcase for the export or local trade, the special pork and bacon carcase competition at the show attracted great interest to-day, when the caicases were returned from the Horotiu w'orks, and hung opposite the -pens containing the live pigs. . Comparatively few of those who sell -finished pigs see the carcases when they are killed out, and for this reason they may have bred on the wrong lines foi years. The primary object o-f the competition was to allow a comparison of the live pigs and the earc-ases side by side. ... Entries consisted -of two pigs which had to be evenly matched for weight and type. The judges, -Messrs. H. Morgan, of Horotiu, and J. Paget, of F-rankton, went through the pens and -satisfied themselves 'that each entry was -a correctly matched pair, and marked one animal to be killed. The slaughtering was carried out at Horotiu yesterday, and the carcases were returned to the show to-day and hung on rails directly, opposite their pen mates. As a result, the live pigs and carcases as nearly the same as possible were shown together. In the -case of one entry neither of the pigs was killed because the judges were agreed that they were neither porkers nor baconers, and no useful purpose would be served in hanging a carcase on the rails. An entry in the bacon class, a flne carcase, was also eliminated because it was over-weight, while in the case of another entry, the animal slaughtered at Horotiu was condemned at the works, and as a result no carcase was shown to compare with the live pig-

Judging was carried out on a definite points schedule, based on the scale as used by the London importers. Results were as -follows: —

Two porkers, dead weight not to exceed 801bs.—--W. R. Shattock, 1 and 3; A. J. Davison, 2. Two baconers, dead weight not to exceed 1601 b Thomas 1, W. R. 'Shattock, 2 and 3. With 13 entries In the porker class and seven in the baooner competition, the entries this year were considerably better than at the 1934 show. -Commenting on the section Mr Morgan said the quality generally was high, and throughout the classes the type of animal was good. The baooner which was placed second was a little too -fat on the shoulder, while the porker which secured the second award was rather lean in the hams.

EMPLOYMENT OF BLIND.

SUBSTANTIAL OUTPUT OF GOODS. STALL AT WINTER SHOW. Over £II,OOO is the total of the sales of ware achieved by the New Zealand Institute for the Blind in the past year, representing the output of 100 blind men and women, who were thus kept in steady employment. They are an interesting group of people, remarkably cheerful, whistling, laughing and talking while they deftly weave their attractive wares.

Some of the workers are apprentices working under an instructor. Some certainly are lads, transferred after gaining their proficiency -certificates in the Instilute Sclipol, but most are men of middle age or over. The fact is they have but recently lost their sight, perhaps only three or four months ago, and have come along to learn to be useful in their new dark world. Some have wives and children to -support and are looking forward to the day when their new skill will enable them, together with housing assistance from the Institute’s funds, to bring them to settle in the neighbourhood. Others, when training is complete, will return to their own districts, possibly Hawke’s Bay or the South Island, to set up in business there, and funds will be forthcoming to . give them a start.

-Many of the regular workers have other handicaps than blindness—arthritis, partial paralysis, deafness or loss of the sense of touch, but they energetically do what they can. They for the most part are employed making the strawberry, grape, and peach clips of which the Institute is practically the sole manufacturer in the Dominion.

The sunny, airy, handsome buildings, which form the workshops, are not what many people would suppose them to be—a depessing place. They form a hive of cheerful industry. It is the ability to be occupied and to earn wages which make it so. The dread part of blindness in the old days was that it meant idleness, poverty and imprisonment of the spirit within walls of blackness and a life of unending monotony until the grave. The public can help by subscribing to the Institute and by buying its wares.

As has been the custom for a number of years past, there has been a stall at the Winter Show for the sale of Institute wares. There is a particularly attractive selection of basketware in new shapes and colours, and everyone should take advantage of the occasion to assist the Institute in its splendid work.

SHOW CHAT. A lot in a little —the three prizewinning exhibits in the class for the heaviest pumpkin in the agricultural section weighed, 2361 b, 14-ilb and 1321 b respectively. * * * *

Among the many features of the Bledisloe Hall which have been commented upon in terms of praise is a particularly fine shipping scene covering the northern wall of the hall. This scene is the work of Mr Rix Carlton, who was responsible for much of the decorative work in the Show buildings, notably in the dairy section. The activity on' the wharves when cargo steamers are in port is strikingly shown by Mr Carlton in his impression in the Bledisloe Hall.

So universal has become Hie habit of attending talking pictures that when occasional "silents” are exhibited the absence of sound seems strange and unnatural. Such must have been tiie ease at the showing of a film depicting the manufacture of dairy factory churns at the smoke concert to factory managers and stewards at Toorak Hall last evening. While the film was displaying scenes of a big butter churn in action one of the audience, obviously familiar with factory conditions, remarked: "She runs nice and quiet.” A norsi. of laughter followed.

Accompanied by their agricultural instructor, a party of boys from the Seddon Memorial 'Technical College at Auckland will visit the show on Monday.

'Hundreds of cars parked in Victoria Street arid adjacent side streets were evidence' to-day of the large influx of visitors ’into Hamilton for the show. This afternoon the main street was particularly busy, while long lines of cars were parked in Ward, Collingwood, and Bryce Streets. However, despite the heavy traffic there was no congestion, a fact which was a tribute to the organisation of the control by the Borough Council traffic department.

Surprise at the magnitude of the show was expressed by the G-overnor-General, Viscount 'Galway, after he had inspected the exhibits on opening day. His Excellency said he had expected to find a small agricultural show, and iic was agreeably surprised at Hie comprehensive nature of-Jlam-iilon’s exhibition, “it is just like being in London,” commented Viscounless Galway.

■Characterising the spirit of modern scientific progress the exhibit of the •Hamilton branch of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters at the show, is proving a source of interest. to many show visitors, particularly those interested in wireless transmission and reception. The exhibit includes a number of sets and apparatus made by members of tiie local branch, while an added feature is the ■array of verification cards from foreign stations contacted by Hamilton amateurs.

The programmes of bright music being broadcast throughout (lie Show Buildings have done much to create the “atmosphere” that makes a visit to the Show so interesting. The wellchoseti records are reproduced with exceptional clarity at correct volume through Dixon's Public Address System which is a welcome and indispensable addition lo the Show’s activities and is proving of Inestimable value in the broadcasting of urgent messages and oilier announcements of an important nature. Mr Ralph Dixon. Ilie owner, and operator is in constant attendance and invites inquiries regarding any function requiring the superior equipment. • 1033