SHEEPBREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 9

SHEEPBREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

annual .meeting

Tho annual meeting of the New Zea- | land Sheepbreeders Association -was held lu.st night, Sir Geo. Clifford (president) presiding over a good attendance. The annual report stated that Volume 18 of the Flock Book had been published during the year, containing flocks of the following breeds:—Lincoln 10, English Leicester 10-1, Border Leicester 184, Komney Marsh 103, Southdown 07, Shropshire 29. Merino 2G, R.yeland 7, SufFfSt 1, Dorset Horn 1, Corriedale 26, halfbred o; total oGO. The following new flocks hacl been admitted during the year Lincoln 1, English Leicester 2 Border Leicester 16, Jtomney Marsh 7, Southdown 1, Merino 2, Corriedale 3; total 32. The following flocks had been dispersed or withdrawn: —English Leicester J2, Bord-.r Leicester 7, Romney Marsh 13, Southdown 8, Shropshire 5; total 33. Sixteen silver shields had been offered for the best four-tooth ram and two-tooth ewe in tho various breeds, to bo the property of breeders whose flocks were registered in the New Zealand Flook Book (South Island). The following were tho winners of the shields: Christchurch Show: Merino ram. Jas. Stevenson: Merino ewe, Sir George Clifford; English Leicester rani, Jsaac Andrew; English Leicester ewo, Isaac Andrew: Lincoln ram, N.Z. and Australian Land Co.; Lincoln owe, Thos. ]>owling; Southdown ram, Canterbury Agricultural College; Southdown ewe, Canterbury Agricultural College; Shropshire ram,' Canterbury Agricultural College : Shropshire owe, Sir George Clifford; Corriedale ram, N.Z. and Australian Land Co.; Corriedale ewe, C. H. Ensor. Ihinedin Show: Border Leicester ram, Jas. Ross; Romney Marsh ewe, D. Murray. Invercargill Show: Romney Marsh rani, Alex. P§at; Border Leicester ewe, J. X. Boag. The balancesheet showed a debit balance of £69 19s 3d. In the capital account, the assets extended the liabilities by £815 lis 4d. The thanks of the Association were duo to members who had inspo?ted the new flocks registered during the past year. Jn moving the adoption of'the report 'and balancc-slieot, the chairman said that the reason for the £213 8s 6d sundry liabilities, was due to increased cost of'printing and prizes. There was not much to comment upon except that the cost of the Flock Book had greatly exceeded previous prices. It had been decided, however, not to increase the •sale price of tha book. The work had been well done, and he thought they might -well thank those who had been working to maintain the purity of the flocks of the country. Last year they had had some difference of opinion with the Romnev Marsh Association in the North Islancl, and up to the present they had not come to any reciprocal agreement which would enable them toexfhange rams with perfect safety. They were quite willing to reciprocate with the! North Island Association providing there was a uniform procedure, and that the Board of Agriculture should be referred to in the event of differences. Mr C. W. Reid seconded the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr C. H. Ensor suggested that the Association should use its fixed deposits for the purposo of providing trophies, for advertising the Zealand flocks outside the' Dominion, or generally raising tho standard of the flocks. ilr J. Coop suggested that the money should be put into the War Loan. The chairman said that for the present he thought it would be as -well to leave the deposit alone, to provide for possible financial dangers. The report and balance-sheet were adonted. A'letter was received from the North Island Romney Sheepbreeders' Association setting forth the position it tookup. South Islanders had been given an opportunity of joining the Association, • and many did join. The Association felt that "there was not much chance of a reciprocal agreement until the Canterbury Association took more drastic methods for the inspection of sheep transferred from one flock to another in th« Canterbury Flock Book. The chairman said it was unfortunate that there should not be a free interchange of sheep between the North and the South, hut it was not their Association that placed obstacles in the way. Negotiations wore now proceeding with the North Island Association. Mr C. H Ensor asked if it would not be possiblo to occasionally inspect flocks that -were already in the Flock Book, so that the certificate given by the Association -would be a real certificate.

The chairmau said that Rulo 12 allowed of inspection of any flock if the Council thought fit. Some time ago the Association had started to carry out an inspection of flocks, the idea being that each breed -would be inspected in. turiw, The Boeder Loicestors had been inspected, hut the cost, some £390, had rather damped the enthusiasm of the Association. If, however, it came to th&» knowledge of the Council that a flock had deteriorated, an inspector was f-ent to investigate, to see if tho flock .should be allowed to remain in tho Hock Ik>ok. Mr C. H. Easor suggested {hat the Council should consider the advisability inspecting flocks every five Tears, 60 that the purity of the breeds should bo \enforced. The chairman said the Council had already a means of deciding whether a flock consisted of sheep 0 f pure blood, iJ: i 1,0 means of settling whether the members of that flock were proper representatives of the blood. That point would settle itself, he ilWteen so ill-treated that they ceased to be proper representatives of the breed, people would cease to buy the breeder's rams or other stock and his flock would soon be a negligible quantity. ■ The meeting then terminated with a vote ot tnanks to the chairman.