JUDGES, ASSOCIATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1346, 25 January 1912, Page 8

JUDGES , ASSOCIATIONS.

MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. The question of judges of live stock at shows is being attacked in South Africa in a manner which is worthy of attention. They have judges' associations for the purpose of training and selecting men capable of officiating as judges. The ol>jects, briefly,, are as follow:—(a) To suggest suitable dales for shows; (b) to providu competeut judges for such shows; (c) to assist show committees in nil matters where advice is required; (d) to protect tho prestige of judges when considered necessary. An association of this kind liafl bsoii in existence for the last live years iu the Orange Kree .State, and has become quite an intluencc in live stock matters. A .similar association has been formed, in C'npc Province, and at its first annual congress, held on November 2S last, it was decided among other things that agricultural societies Mibicribing one guinea to the association would be entitled lo the services oi five judges free of extra charge, over five and up to ten two guineas, and for all judges over ten 10?. each. It was also resolved that Ihe society pay the reasonable expenses of judges mi the basis of a maximum allowance oi' Ins., plus railway fare uml transport. The tissociiitiou reserve.-; full discretion in tl«! appointment of judges, and members are not allowed to olliciate at ony show without the sanction of the pNccntive. In regard to the question of single judging, a motion was pa-ssed that the association recommend two judges for sheep, goats, and vehicles, and single judges wherever possible in other sections. Judging by points was left to the discretion of judges'. It was also resolved to institute examinations for the diploma of the association under a board of examiners, the entrance fee of a guinea to be reckoned as the first year's subscription to tho Judges' Association in the case of all students who pass the examination, SO per cent, to be required for a pass. The foregoing remarks give an idea as io the lines oil which judges' associations are worked in South Africa, and it remains to l:t> si-ch whether similar associations could not be adopted in Australia and Xew Zealand.