TRAINING SHOW JUDGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1266, 23 October 1911, Page 8

TRAINING SHOW JUDGES.

AN INTERESTING OPINION. Iα view of tho morn to bo made by the Wnirarapa mid East Const P. nnd A. Association nt its forthcoming show, in tho direction of (raininpr young judges, the following opinions of Mr. Joseph Douthwiiitc, expressed in a letter to tho "Press," are of particular interest: — "I would like to throw out n sußgestion to all the A. anil P. Associations throughout the- Dominion," says Mr. Douthwaile. "Our various shows will toon be here, and it may be worthy of some consideration, or it mny not. The rjnesiion is, where arc our future judges to come from!- . There is only one answer, nnd that is, 'from tho young men. During tho last fifteen to twenty years, to my knowledge (I am now tponliing in reference to sheep judging particularly; it may also concern all other classes: of stock) the same judges in.Canterbury and Otago havo been judging at the various shows. ... ' "AH honour to these men, but they cannot go on judging for ever. Advancing years begin to tell their tale on some of our most competent men. Wo want young men to lill their places. I would suggest, in order to bring these young mon to a stage of proficiency to take their stand as judges in the future, that' there art , plenty of fanners and breeders' sons who take a great interest in show slock, and many of these have a ' fair . knowledge of the different'points. Some af sheep, some qf horses, and some ' of cattle. Let the committees of the different A. and I'. Associations select four, or any number they may suggest, to go with the judge as the case may be, and let him demonstrate- to them the good qualities or tho deficiencies of the animal ho is judging. If more than one judge, let the students hear the why and wherefore qf their opinions if they do not all agree:" Stock are there for criticism, for they are. criticised not alone by thu judges, but by the public as well, and a diversity of tho judges' opinions will bo an education to them. In Australia they have already introduced this, system for tho benefit of the young student. "Last year at the Melbourne Royal Show, when Mr. T. S. Little judged the Leicesters, he had, I think, two young fellotvs- with him all the time he" was judging, and said it pave him (he greatest pleasuro to have them. They were so eager and anxious to learn, and where could these boys have got a , more instructive and more practical lesson, and onp that will stand to (hem all their lives. I saw the fame thing happen at the Sydney Royal this year, when tho same gentleman was judging. To my mind, it was marvellous tho interest tho boys took in the judge's work, and it was a pleasure for the judge to impart the required knowledge that they were seeking. I made it my business after the judging was over to have a conversation with those lads, and I was surprised how they had grasped tlie instruction given, and I . put them !o a practical test. I took first and spcond prize-takers in the ram hogget class. We had a look at them, land I said: "I think tho judgo has made a mistako here. He ought to have put the '. second prize snoop first. One of the lads ■ jumped into the po'n, and he showed me where thn judgo said the second prize < sheep was deficient It was perfectly correct. Now, thin was a practical lesson, and it is from such boys that our future judges ore to come, and we, as exhibitors and breeder?, ought to give them all the instruction and help, and '. give them also every facility wo possibly '. can. To place them in the hands of the . judges I am sure is a step in tho right direction. The way I suggest is an efficient and practical way to gain practical ■ knowledge, and , as we can hold our own with stock in any part of Australia, we do not want to get behind with good judges, and : to"".educate the-young is a safe guard. Take the' Boy Scout who has had a careful and instructive training from an efficient officer and place beside him one who has no training, and the result will be obvious." THE WAIRARAPA RULES. The rules governing the Wairarapa and East Coast. P. and A. Society's scheme are:— 1. Entries of amateurs will close at 9 a.m. on the first day of the show. 2. Entries shall bo invited in any breed of stock. 3. On no account shall students speak to the judge, or interfere in any way while judging is in progress, or until after the judgo has handed his awards to the stewards in charge. 1. That two classes (male and female) in each breed through tho schedule be selected for tho pupil to receive his instructions on. 5. Students to bo supplied with plain cards on which to s-tate their reasons for awards, and tho position in which the prize animals are placed by them. G. That cards are Eo be handed to , the steward in charge, after the judgo has given his, report, and to be retained by the society for future reference. 7. That the society kcjp a register, re- . cording names of amateurs who receive education at the society's show, mid that every help bo afforded those whom the judge mentions snecially, fo bo placed on tho official list of judges, and to receive appointments from otliei agricultural and pastoral associations. ; The entry fee is fixed at 2s. Cd.