BREEDERS' MEETINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 851, 24 June 1910, Page 8

BREEDERS' MEETINGS.

SHEEP AND CATTLE INTERESTS.' EOHNEY ASSOCIATION. The animal meotiug of the Romney Marsh Breeders' Association was held yesterday afternoon, Sir. G. Wheeler presiding. Reference was mado in the report to the continued progress of tho association. It wa* stated that tho bank balance was (he amount on fixed deposit «C2II, making a total credit of *£497. Tliero wor 177 registered jlocks and 23 applications for transfer* wore being considered by tiTo council. Attention was drawn to tho rule dealing with the inspection ot' stud ewes frokl, the council desiring lo emphasise the necessity for having sheep examined by the council s iivspector before parsing out ot tho vendor's hand?. The list of the inspector was 1 being revised with a view to expediting the work of inspection throughout tho Dominion. Tho ohainnan remarked that tho as so- : ciation membership was now over 200, a 1 membership that was not equalled by i any other sheep brooders' association. I The following officers wore elected:— ' President, Mr. G. C. "Wheeler; vicepresident, Mr. A. Holmes; council, Messrs. Matthews, H. V. Pulton, J. Kebbell, and D. Murray; auditors, Messrs. J. Ivrtight and Littlej treasurer, Mr. 1\ Jacob. HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION. A meeting of breeders of J-lolstein-Freisixin cattle was held this afternoon to discuss a proposal that an association should l>e forniied. There were present:— Messrs. C. Phillips (Carterton), B. Gray (Taikorea), C. Liggins (Tokomaru), \Y. Drysdale (Wereroa), Newton King (New Plymouth), John Donald (Wanganui), "W. Remnant (Woodville), G. W. Walt (\\ uikalo), W. J. Lovolock (Palmerston \orth), A. J. Gallichan (Palmerston North), F.' J. Hose (Takaka, Kelson), an<l J. AV. Parkinson (Auckland). Jlr. AV. M'Konzic, the convenor, mentioned that he had communicated with tte leading breeders. and many of them had replied that they were willing to support the movement. The meeting unanimously decided to form a body, to ho railed "Tho New Zealand HolstemEreijian Breeders' Association." Those present formed themselves into a committee with power to add to their number. The annual subscription was fixed at one guinea. Officials were elected as follow:—President, Jlr. C. Phillips; rice r presidente. Messrs. Newton King, J. Grigs (l.ongbeaeh), and AV. J. Lovelock; secretary, Jlr. AY. M'Kenzie (Palmerston North); treasurer, Jlr. AV. J. Lovelock; auditor, Jtr. J. Liggins. It was decided to register under tho Incorporated Societies Act, and also that the committee should moit quarterly, and that the president and secretary should have power to call other meetings. The compilation of the herd book was informally discussed at some length, and it was decided to admit animals on the declaration of the owners that they were purebred, and subject to their being passed by the inspectors. Fees were fixed at 10s. for bulls and ss. for cows and heifers. Inspectors were appointed as follow:— AVairarapa, Jlr. J. Lovelock; AVest Coast to New Plymouth, Jlr. Coleman Phillips; Auckland,'Jlr. J. AV. Parkinson; South Island, Jlr. J. Grigg. SHORN FOR SHOW PURPOSES. At the meeting of tho Romney Breeders' Association yesterday afternoon a discussion took placo cn tho shearing of sheop for show purposes. Jlr. Douglas Gardner, in a letter fo the association on the subject, pointed out that at the shows now it was not a question of tho breeder, but the barber. Jlr. Gardner, who was present at tlie meeting, said tli'at tho association was mainlv responsible for the present state of things, because tho judges wero almost always chosen from members of tho association. The present method of shearing slieep for show purposes was practically "faking," and the speaker was inclined to urge that tho .association should prohibit it'in tho future. Mr. Matthews agreed with this view, stating that sheep frequently appeared in the show pens with two or three inches more wool on Hiau they ought to have Even experienced judges found it difficult to detect "faking." Ho believed that niany exhibition sheep were never properly shorn. They were simply "cut down," and the wool was not shorn oil closo to the skin.Jlr. S. Standen agreed that tho suggestion made was a good one, but urged that if it were approved uniformity i of judging in regard to shearing should' be strictly insisted upon. Tho chairman (Jlr. G. AVbeeler) remarked that the proposal had been affirmed at previous association meetings, but no definite stand had yet been taken. At present only glaring cases could be discovered. On the motion of Mr. Douglas, the association reaffirmed the resolution that these unfair shearing methods should be discontinued. EXPORT SHEEP CERTIFICATES. At the meeting of the Romney Breeder's' Association yesterday afternoon mention was made of tho granting of certificates for sheep sold for export. Mr. Oscar Jlonrad said that he had recently sold somo ewes for export, and his application for an export certificate had been refused. It appeared to him that a certificate should be granted to any sheep registered. The certificate should go with the auimal when it was sold, no matter who was the buyer—the association need onlv ascertain that the animal was registered in the Plod; Bool;. It. seemed "rather hard that a man should he deprived of his certificate guaranteeing his purchase because he was not a member of the association. He considered that the association took a narrow view of the matter, and might do a good deal of harm to those engaging in business outside New Zealand. Jlr. Wheeler said that he was the culprit. He bad refused certificates because Mr. Jlonrad had sold lo a dealer who was going lo the Argentine. The association had therefore 110 means of knowing where the shoe]) or the certificates would eventually go. Certificates were handed ronml indiscriminately. Tho sheep might eventually land in a foreign country, and the certificates could bo used for all manner of trickery. The association sulTered more than individual members, and there was nothing less desirable than allowing certificates to get into tho hands of members. Jlr. Rowlands suggested that the New Zealand breeders' should follow the English example of ear-marking sheep. H was finally agreed (hat the council should frame an amendment of the byiaws it they considered it desirable to do so. lister shearing machines. fPiniI.ISIIKD lIT AimANCKSIENT.I The Lister Sheep-shearing Machine Company have a very fine exhibit of their manufactures in motion. Although the Lister has onlx J-ceu : jjUwed-on -tho jNew.

Zealand market since tho beginning of tho year it has attained a wide celebrity amongst sheepfaruiors—a statement confirmed by the fact that it lias already established a New Zealand sheep-shearing machine sales record. Apparently the Lister has jumped right oft the mark, and is now easily ou the top rung of the ladder of public appreciation. Sheepfarmers generally praise the perfect finish and the smooth running of these machines. and shearers themselves are now sendiug in Haltering testimonials as lo their worth. The Lister is no experiment. It has been made especially to the order of Messrs. Dangur, Gedye, and Company, of Sydney, and Messrs. Levin and Company, ot Wellington, and these firms have had twenty years' experience of sheep-shear-ing machine?} and their mnnaKoment. They and their experts- arc fully aware of what is required, and the result is seen in the present excellent machine working to-day. The superior qualifications of the Lister are so numerous that thev are .somewhat difficult to hct out in detail, but it may be said nt once that for accuracy and. smooth running they stand alone. They have reduced vibration to a minimum. It is interesting to nolo that the Lister skew bolt "drive" invented by Mr. Alex. Hutchinson, of the firm of Levin and Company, is included in to-day's exhibit. This year this appliance has won its way into many sheds in New Zealand, it allows the shearer the greatest facilities for shearing his sheep. It is easily adapted to ictf' and frail sheds, whilst its silent running commends itself to all who use it. All the shaft bearings of this gear are fitted with ring oilers, and they are distinctly superior to any other shaft oiling now on the market. They cconomiso time and material, as only ono oiling is required during a shearing, and there is no drip of oil to the floor. All parts of tho Lister are interchangeable with the AVolseley, and they may be obtained from any ot tho chief agencies throughout the Dominion. It may be added in order to give an of the practical manner in which the agents deal with the business that last season Mfcssrs. JvOvin and Company taught over one hundred sheep-farmers and their sons in their work schoolroom at Wellington how tho machines are to be managed and attended to. This year tho schoolroom has been enlarged to accommodate a still larger number of pupils. To tho farmer a thorough knowledge of sheep-shearing machines is, of course, now absolutely essential, as shearers now demand that every lire machines shall requiro an expert attendant. The Lister Company has also one of Iho oldest and largest cream separator manufactories in England. Their machines have a world-wide reputation, as also have their churns, coolers, and other dairy requisites. The compauy makes a special line of oil engines of 2s, -1, 0, and 8 h.p., vertical type. Other engines are also stocked with the shearing machine top motion. They arc made attachable to 2, 3, or 1 shearing machines, portable, with or without wheels. The shearing portion can be removed within a few minutes, and the engine is then ready for any work of its kind on sheep station or farm. Thoso who require a shearing machine or a cream separator should not fail to inspect the Lister exhibit. The sole New Zealand agents arc Messrs. Levin and Company, while tho representative in charge of the exhibit is Mr. A. G. Hutchinson.