In “Show Day” New Zealand.
Our Splendid Development of the A. & P. Association Movement.
The Display Windows of a Hundred Districts.

(By O. N. Gillespie .)

New Zealanders have made a new thing of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society idea, and in this article I propose to show exactly how proud we should be, and what a great work has been achieved in this regard.

No grown-up amongst us can fail to remember “Show Day.” Our memories are compounded of fleeting visions of long rows of pens of cows and sheep; stock parades; hunters doing miracles over fences; snow-white tents in dozens that held all sorts of wonders; the “Fat Woman”; “Performing Seals”; “The Twelve Midgets”; the “Hoop-La”; the wheezing, noise-making roundabouts, and a wandering, sauntering, cheery, copious, and apparently endless procession of human beings.

No matter where a New Zealander lives, there is an A. and P. Show within a few miles of him. This country has no less than ninety-nine various shows in a year, and over two hundred separate show-days.

This is in line with the settled facts that in most branches of human endeavour, our million and half folks do things on the scale of ten millions in any other part of the world. But, more important than the mere numbers, and the imposing array of figures, is the genuine phenomenon that New Zealand leads the world in making the best cultural and educational use of the A. and P. idea.

The manufacturer of a new implement, the inventor of a new machine, the courageous importer of a new line of bloodstock, be it horse, cattle, pig, or dog; the innovator in transport mechanism, be it motor-car, tractor or steam hauler; the author of sound doctrine in cultivation, care of stock or any branch of farm technique, or the purveyor of the latest fashion fad from London, finds here his best medium.

I will confine this article to the “Spring Show” for many of our carnivals are held after Christmas mainly for the purposes of exhibition of fat stock. Those which are dated before Christmas are essentially typical of this great development in farming science, and the creation of the connecting link between farmer and business man.

The A. and P. Show which was in its beginnings, a sort of picnic holiday, a cheery country carnival, has in the hands of our countrymen, become

A corner of the spacious grounds.
(Rly. Publicity photo.)

a farm university extension course, a mighty educational factor, a splendid and efficient selling implement, and a new and important combination of pleasure and profit.

Naturally, in this article, I have not time nor space to deal with the ninety-nine shows of New Zealand. As is our special habit, so distinctive of our country, this great movement is not confined to our cities. It cannot be said too often, that the Dominion stands alone in one outstanding peculiarity. Our country towns, and more particularly, our provincial capitals, rival our metropolitan centres, and leave the rest of the world far behind, in their general standard of amenities. Every district has a carnival, and splendid and impressive shows are held in centres that in older lands would simply be regarded as a “gap in the hedge.” Ashburton, a town of four or five thousand souls, has a tremendous festival. It has twenty-eight acres of show grounds, vast modern exhibition buildings, and last year had 3,037 entries, coming in close behind the great movable Royal Show. Each district specialises in some way, and Ashburton is particularly strong in horses, its enormous agricultural areas providing unexampled excellence in the whiskery Clydesdale and other equine types suitable for farm work.

A peep at the Australian Court. (Rly. Publicity photo.)

The Bay of Islands Show at Waimate North started in a frame covered with nikau palms, with an open centre to admit the light. The next step was a hall 44 × 32ft. with two ante-rooms, which cost altogether $58, the kauri timber and the labour being contributed by the executive and their mates. To-day it is a modern exhibition worthy of any capital.

I am taking one society as an example to give readers the right impression of what we have to boast about in the growth of this great institution. Once more, I pause to suggest that we cultivate the habit of mentioning, not loudly, necessarily, but very often and with great firmness the good things of our lovable, beautiful, and progressive paradise of the British Empire.

This year of grace marks the Golden Jubilee of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association. This titanic exhibition takes place in a New Zealand country city, Palmerston North, which has a population of twenty thousand. Owing to its unique centrality, however, it operates as a centre for five times that number, and is in fact, within easy reach of any part of the North Island. The rise and growth of the Association is, of itself, a panorama of the development of the whole district, and has, moreover, its own essentially New Zealand atmosphere.

The Association began its activities, half a century ago in a log-strewn paddock, in the midst of a great forested plain, ringed and guarded by the lofty Tararua and Ruahine Ranges. Inroads into the dense bush had been made by courageous settlers, and sweet English grasses were taking the place of the tall trees. Wekas, kiwis, fern-birds and makomakos would be heard in the country roads which are now the elegant suburban streets of the City of Palmerston North. The settlers were, however, of the type that fashion new worlds, selected Anglo Saxons, with a sprinkling of Norsemen. They had courage and imagination, and behind them the tradition that farming was a science, a profession with a heritage that needed cherishing. A railway system was in course of completion and those dreamers of high dreams, were certain that their town was to be in the future, a great and important railway centre. The Association was formed, Mr. David Buick presiding at the first meeting, where Mr. J. C. Sly made an impressive speech in the role of prophet. The committee started to function immediately, taking off their coats to start the job of clearing away the stumps,

Giants among the vegetables.
(Rly. Publicity photo.)

from the cemetery plot which the city fathers had decided was not going to be adequate for the needs of the growing township.

In November, 1886, the first show was held, and it was conservatively estimated (turnstiles were not “within the sphere of practical politics” in those days) that the attendance was in the vicinity of the colossal total of 1,200. The membership was sixty. Today it is over 2,000 and modern turnstiles click to 50,000.

It is not the province of this article to go into historical detail. The first President was Sir James Prendergast, succeeded by Sir James Wilson (for six years) and thereafter came a long procession of distinguished gentlemen who laboured loyally, zealously and unselfishly for the advancement of the institution. It is invidious to mention names for, in the accident of circumstance, many a great worker, many a valiant enthusiast, did his task without figuring in the official honours list.

It has been said that pioneering in the Dominion was comparatively easy. The attainment of a high standard of comfort was reached very early in our history. This may be so, and, assuming that it is, the achievement was only made so speedily because of the high calibre and the specially selected material of which our pioneers consisted.

Our duty now is to appreciate, understand, and estimate at its real worth, and to look upon, with proper pride, the tremendous result of the work of those mighty men of the early days of our country.

The Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association is, of its kind, one of page 13

The Motor Olympia. (Rly. Publicity photo.)

the great institutions of the world. It runs two main carnivals, the Spring Show and the Winter Show, the latter known as the National Dairy Show. Owing to the enormous space it has under cover, it is enabled to repeat largely, at the Spring Show, the marvellous industrial exhibition it maintains at the winter function. Between seventy and eighty thousand feet of space house every variety of article that is purchased by mankind. For the four days of the Show, the spacious grounds of thirty-three acres, and the vast area of buildings, are a scene of metropolitan activity.

Let us make the tour, on an “off-day.” It is only a trifle easier than on “People's Day” when the crowds are reminiscent of Epsom on Derby Day, and all roads radiating out from the town are black with traffic. We enter through the turnstiles situate under the imposing administration buildings. We take a ramble through the industrial exhibition. Everybody in the world that has anything to sell to New Zealanders seems to be represented, and every stall has its knot of folks inspecting the display. Things on show range from ribboned sticks and candy floss, to milking machines, and the latest electrical devices for comfort in the home. At the Show you could buy a large farm, stock it under the best auspices, build and furnish a modern home complete with the latest comfort-bringing “gadget” from London, and live for six months.

The motor display is lavish and impressive, and we pass through the stadium with its ingeniously arranged seating to the poultry exhibits. This is where one begins to see life. Ducks, and fowls take on sizes, shapes and varieties of such a number and bewildering maze of colour and form that it stuns the imagination. All these differing species have some particular and worthwhile value.

Then we pass to the open air. Our picture shows the imposing stands, the grandstand seating over three thousand people. The parade-ground is a sports centre for the city, and is a well-kept recreation field suitable for all games.

To-day will be the maiden jumpers' competition and the steer-riding, and every day there will be interesting events. The jumping events have become classics, and where they talk “horse” there are still memories of the deeds of Pickpocket, Tomtit, and Duchess which rival those of Carbine and Desert Gold.

The picturesque Apple Pyramid.
(Rly. Publicity photo.)

The practical side of the Show now comes in evidence. Commodious and well-built pavilions house the cattle and sheep, the latter being the fine memorial to that great pioneer, Mr. G. C. Wheeler. For auction sales there is a covered in Sale Ring and Buyers' Gallery. There are many other temples to the science of agriculture and its brother arts. The Breeders' Club, Plunket Rest Rooms, caretaker's house and workshop, committee building lecture hall make up with the six great exhibition edifices, a set of general equipment second to none in the Dominion, and able to claim parity with most in the world.

On Peoples' Day with its surging crowds thronging the endless side shows, streaming through the industry exhibits, and massing to see the Grand Parade, one might very easily forget the high purpose which dominates the whole conception. It is never lost sight of and is working all the time, even when the carnival is apparently a mighty entertainment, a mixture of circus, gymkhana, world's fair, and sports' meeting.

No one can come away without learning something new, but to those engaged in any branch of farming, the Show acts as an excellent post-graduate course. Great skill and ingenuity are exercised in maintaining the interest of the younger generation in all the arts of homecraft, farming and its kindred industries and occupations. Classes of entries are open for scholars of primary and secondary schools, and every device is used for encouraging the progress of the Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs and Gardening Circles.

page 15

(Rly. Publicity photo.)
A Pyramid of competing New Zealand Cheeses.

The competition created in the blood stock arena is the healthiest and surest method of improving our standard strains, and maintaining their excellence.

In Palmerston North, the Show also acts as a conference centre. Here sit the little parliaments who administer the affairs of the many breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs, where the discussions are handled by men who are the best in the land on each subject.

The Show does not only function as the shop window of the Manawatu. It acts as a University College where assemble all the finest experts of our rural industries, to instruct, mark progress, and search for means of improving still more the great original science on which New Zealand depends for its very existence.

The A. and P. Association movement is largely responsible for the position we hold in the world in the standard of our livestock, for our leadership in the technique of farming, and in the unsurpassed excellence of the wide range of our primary production. The Royal Show development was a step forward in this direction, intensifying the competition between breeders, and assisting to raise the already high standards. Palmerston North, by the way, was selected as the venue for the first Royal Show.

All of us who are able, should see the Jubilee Show at Palmerston North. It promises to be a peak achievement, and will be the Mecca to which tens of thousands will proceed, with a hundred and one objectives in their minds. I noticed with interest in one old report that 14,500 people went on one day by rail to the city. On that day also, every road for miles round would be a packed procession of vehicles.

What an imposing instrument such a carnival is! Its power for good or ill is almost illimitable.

However, here in this Dominion we can rest assured that the wisest possible use is being made of it.

Aerial panorama of Showgrounds.

And in conclusion may I say that this is to be expected. We are simply maintaining the great tradition of which we are the natural heirs, and by doing so are taking the proper advantage of those beneficent gifts of climate, terrain, and surroundings which our lovely land affords.

“Tobacco has been one of the greatest blessings of my life,” declared Geo. R. Sims, the well-known journalist and dramatist, on one occasion, and he went on to say that although cigarette and cigar had their attraction for him he found that “after all there's nothing like a briar.” Judging by the popularity of the pipe countless smokers agree with him. Here in New Zealand, despite the rivalry of the cigarette, the pipe still holds its own. As for the weed the demand for “toasted” points conclusively to the almost universal preference for these beautiful tobaccos, the most delicious, the most soothing and the least harmful of any. Why “the least harmful?” Simply because they are practically free from nicotine, removed by toasting. Thus their purity is assured. There are only five brands of the original “toasted.” Three —Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog) and Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead) —are unequalled for the pipe, while the other two, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold, make the choicest of all cigarettes, as those who roll their own long since discovered.^*