SHORTHORN CATTLE BREEDERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 282, 17 August 1918, Page 10

SHORTHORN CATTLE BREEDERS

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION ° The annual meeting of the New, Zealand Shorthorn Cattle Breeders' Association was held at the Canterbury. A. and P. Association rooms on Wednesday, Mr. K. 15. Alexander, president, was in tho chair, and there was a small attendance.

The council submitted the following report of the work of the association (luring the past year:—"The number of members .of the association totals lit, made up of 123 annual members and 21 life members. Volume-14 has been published during; the year. Tho volume contains entries of 307 bulls and 787 cows, and 124 transfers. . In Volume 14 Hie pedigrees of all animals nro referred back to cows whose pedigrees appear in 'Cdates's Herd Book, or to the -taproot in the 'New Zealand Herd Book.' Four gold medals were offered for competition at shows for the champion bull exhibited, with (he following result:—Waikato Show: Mr. William Taylor's' Admiral Barrington (2788); Palmerston North: Mr. Gi. A. Turner's lioyal Duke 62nd 13023) i Christehurch Show: Mr. W. B. Cunningham's Orphan Clansman (2740); Invercurgill Show:' Mr." W. A; Cox's Earl of Wyndham, (2i2S). The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of j2Si 3s. Id. for the year, which has been carried to capital account; ,£IOO has been invested in War Loan Certificates." The balance-sheet showed that on tho revenue account the receipts had been ~£397 2s. 7d„ and the credit balance as stated was £$A 3s. Id. The assets ■amounted to. .£265 9s. 4d;

The president, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said ,that there had been a very large increase in membership during the year, and this showed that there wa<s no lack of interest in Shorthorn breeding. Notonly was there great interest taken in Shorthorns in New. Zealand, but they were the predominant breed in all other countries iu the world. Reports from shows indicated that the standard of excellence was. being maintiiined. but there wero one or two siiggfstioi'.s to make that .would assist .the'interests of the breed. Although , they did not believe in looking to the Government for everything, yet they should ask for more encouragement Ito import, cattle, .is had been done in other countries,' such- as the Argentine. I There had been, little export of Short-* home from New Zealand, mainly due to, , the shortage of shipping, and there was a lack of knowledge of the excellence of New Zealand Shorthorns. The position he took up -was that they must keep up the standard of _ their cattle, and although registration and long pedigrees were all right, they must bo able to absolutely guarantee everything that went forth from tho association. . Unfortunatety there were one or two members who were sla:k in complying with tho rules and in sending in their annual returns. This was a matter that the council were attending'to. It was necessary that the calving dates should be definitely stated, and that the tattoo or firemark, number should be slated. They would only> have animals that were perfect in pedigree registered in the future. The council had decided that transfer certificates must be signed and paid for by the seller. .So far as the finances were concerned (hoy could anticipate a. smaller return from several soiircee, and , an increasing expenditure. It was, therefore, recommended that the ivgistration fees be increased from ss. to 7s. 6d. for .bulls, and from 3s. to ss. for cows, and these amounts were very small in comparison with the value of'the animals. It was considered advisable that a sinking fund should be created out of the life members' fees, and «s .£IOO had been invested in the War Loan it was suggested that another .£IOO should be invested, in the. same way. Mr. W. }'; Archibald "(Hawke's Bay) seconded the motion for the adoption of the report and balance-eheetv Bγ Gribben suggested that largo breeders Mould have the option of sending returns more frequently than once a year, in erder to simplify the work and eliminate the liability, to error. The report and balance-sheet were ndonted. i

Messrs. W. B. Cunningham (South Island) and A. D. M'Master (North Island) were re-elected members of the council. The officers were re-elected as follows--President, Mr. E. E. Alexander; vicepresident, Mr. W.. P , . Archibald; auditor, Mr. A. M'Kellnr.

After a discussion it was resolved to make no change regarding sending in returns, as suggested by Dr. Gribben The president stated that it was intended to give £3 35.. shields instead of medals at the coming season's shows, and increase the number from four to six. The allotment was as follows ton, Franklin, and Gisborne (North Island), Christchurch, Invercargill and Dunedin (South Island).