THE FLEECE CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 395, 2 January 1909, Page 3

THE FLEECE CONTEST.

DROPPED FOR LACK OF SUPPORT. Much interest was ( taken throughout New Zealand over Mr. G. 'C. Wheeler's, snhemo— • adopted-'by ' tho Foilding A., and !P.'Association —for: a.-fleece contest;: and some disapnatnraDy drop the contest for. the'present: season owing toslack:-of : eritries ; on the: decision, a writer in tho "Otago; Witness " * says:— ':i;7/' ■ " I am sorry to say that after all the. trouble the I'c-ilding A. and P. Association have, taken. to inaugurate the fleece: compe- ,. tition, and. the enthusiastic way it appeared - - to bo .taken up by breeders, for: somo'incom- .. ' prehehsible'.reason' only two entries'-, turned. up, and they were both of Lincolns, whereas . it was.theßomney raen who were tho cause of, the; A.i and-P.. Association taking ; tho mat-: ■ tor up. , I understand Mr.' Wheeler: was 011 ; the scene prepared' for. tho contest, but as :no /; other 'Romncy; breeder '.entered he also re- ' fraincd;. The-reason advanced -for- tho failure .... of the contest, is that it .is too .latei'in.. the season.- It is late, but after the amount of talk thero has been it seems as if breeders' ;■ ; afraid -of 'the only fair, and .sound test: that could bo applied to prove which' flceco: is tho-'most valuable. ':'Sonie think-it would be sufficient to-sec the sheep shorn and then left,in thelharids-of "the:ownier'until ,brouftht , : forward to be shown again next year. This : sort of contest: has 'been, tried;: and;:'found wanting. . : Not that 'breeders ,doubt each' 'other's honour; but ;in such a contest it is '. ■ the. public, that, has -to. be satisfied,; and the ' only way . to.Vdo. that:,is, • aswas - proposed, for tho association to ha'vo charge of and be responsible,for -tho sheep from shearing to shearing. Howevor, the committee havo not altogether, abandoned the soheme. . Thoy :havo suggested :t-hat,- i owing to lack of supfort, the .competition be dropped this season, ut-that it.be kept'in view for : the; following . year:-;-Byr.tbat . time, perhaps,' breeders will . - better understand-the real object of tho contest." 1