Agricultural and Pastoral Associations

Societies for the improvement of agriculture and for the exhibition of livestock and machinery have long been a feature of rural life in older countries. They appeared early in New Zealand. The Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, founded in 1843, was the first to be formally organised; in the South Island, a show of merino sheep at Rangitata in 1859 led to the formation of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1863. The Manawatu and West Coast Association followed in 1886, Hawke's Bay in 1858, Southland in 1867, and Otago in 1876. Sixty-four North Island and 41 South Island associations are incorporated under the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act of 1908, and severally affiliated to the Royal Agricultural Society. All these associations claim, in their formal constitutions, a wide range of aims which are generally similar. They include measures to improve crops, stock, and husbandry, and to better rural life. Thus, in earlier days there were frequent debates on such matters as schools and the curriculum of studies, insect pests and noxious weeds and their control, the analysis of manures, country telephones–any subject, in fact, that affected the farmer and farming directly or indirectly. Politics were avoided and membership was open to all interested and not exclusively to those engaged in farming. When, about the turn of the century, a Farmers' Union was formed, most of the matters needing to be discussed with the Government were left to the new organisation, and agricultural and pastoral associations concerned themselves more and more with holding shows.

Dominion Conferences

New Zealand had quickly developed the “conference habit” and in 1892 the Canterbury A. and P. Association convened the first colonial conference of delegates of kindred associations. This became first a biennial and then an annual meeting, and developed in 1914 into the New Zealand Council of Agriculture. The early conferences were a gathering of the foremost leaders in the farming industry. Regular members, such as Thomas Brydone, John Grigg, John Roberts, Sir John Hall, the Hon. Matthew Holmes, James Holmes, J. Studholme, D. D. Macfarlane, R. D. (later, Sir Douglas) McLean, W. C. (later, Sir Walter) Buchanan, and J. G. (later, Sir James) Wilson, gave distinction to any gathering of farmers. Sessions were usually attended by local members of Parliament and often by Cabinet Ministers. One important meeting in 1905, dealing with rural education, was addressed by Dr (later, Sir Truby) King, with the Governor, Lord Plunket, taking part in the discussion.

The conference reached its peak of energy, influence, and usefulness in 1911. It was opened by the Governor, Lord Islington, who described the activities of the English Central Chamber of Agriculture (directed to the scientific and technical aspects of the improvement of agriculture) and so started a discussion which led in 1914 to the end of the informal conferences and to the inauguration of the Council of Agriculture. In 1924 this became the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand.

An annual conference of A. and P. Associations and of Breed Societies is held under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society. This conference concerns itself mainly (but not necessarily authoritatively) with matters affecting the running of shows. With the increasing stature and influence of the Farmers' Union (now Federated Farmers) most of the matters that were once considered by the conference are now in the care of the federation.

The Royal Agricultural Society

An attempt to form such a society was made in 1879 at a meeting of delegates from A. and P. Associations and others interested. It was held in Oamaru “in the large coffee room of the Star and Garter Hotel”. As befitting the place and the occasion, there were many notables present and an appropriate resolution was carried. The depression of the eighties, however, was on its way and the attempt to get enough members proved abortive. The idea was revived from time to time, usually meeting with opposition from parties who feared domination by a central authority. In 1924, however, a constitution was agreed upon, and the society received a Royal Charter. William Perry (later, Sir William) became president. The society, not having a central showground of its own, has worked out a system by which the annual Royal Show is staged by one or other of the metropolitan associations. After a good start public support began to decline; potential members preferred to concentrate their efforts on their local associations and shows. Faced with this serious loss of interest in the depression of the early thirties, the president (L. R. C. Macfarlane, of Canterbury) introduced a new constitution in terms of which local interest was worked up by five (now six) district councils which have the right of taking turns in having the Royal Show in their districts.

A principal handicap to staging a worthy Royal Show in New Zealand is the cost of transporting the best stock in the country to any one place, despite the society's subsidy on costs. Because of this, any given Royal Show is usually a rather inflated version of its normal exhibition. Even so, there is special strength in particular sections at various shows. Thus the Royal Show in Christchurch has claims to be recognised as one of the finest sheep shows in the world. There are first-class exhibitions of beef cattle at Hastings, of dairy cattle at Hamilton, and a good all-round show at Palmerston North. The present (1965) president of the Royal Agricultural Society is Lt.-Col. Sir Walter Burrell, (1964–). Past presidents are Sir William Perry, 1923–31; L. R. C. Macfarlane, 1931–34; L. J. Wild, 1934–45; B. E. Keiller, 1945–52; J. S. Marshall, 1952–58; and M. S. Rennie, 1959–63.

Winter Shows

Besides staging spring or summer shows (with livestock and machinery the important exhibits), the principal associations also staged winter shows to exhibit roots and fodder crops and dairy and home produce. A few winter shows still survive; some exhibit turnips, mammoth mangolds, etc.; others, fruits, samples of grains and grass seeds, and the like. Many associations also give kennel clubs, bird fanciers, and so on, the chance to exhibit and compete.

The Appeal of Shows

To many people a show suggests “all the fun of the fair”; and at all the shows there is entertainment of infinite variety; but there are other things equally fascinating–the educational exhibits of the Agriculture and other State Departments, the trade displays of private firms, and the latest models of machinery. About 100 or more centres give country people at least once a year the chance to display their products (live and dead) to townsfolk, and in return give a chance to townspeople to satisfy their interest in the essential job of farming. This is important, for the visitor to one of our metropolitan shows may see, among other interesting things, a cross section of the New Zealand people.

by Leonard John Wild, C.B.E., M.A., B.SC.(HON.), D.SC., formerly Pro-Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, Otaki.