ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 10

ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

BREEDERS'AvSSOCIATION'S ANNUAL V >'-.:. MEETING. " • , • '.;, .(By.Tclegraph — Special Reporter.) ■ 7 " " Paimerston North, June 19. At the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Romney Marsh Breeders' Association Mr. A. Matthews, of Eeathe-r-Bton, was in the chair. The report ami balance-sheet, a precis cf- which has been published, were read and adopted. The sum of .£SO was donated to the ■Breeders' Club. A ballot resulted in tho following five m?nibers., being elected to the couw.il in • place of tHoso who retire in rotation:— •Messrs.'J.'lV. Harding (Waipukuraii), A. S.'.Holmes (Invercurgill), P. Gray (Mnsterton), J. Qonrt (Fcilding), and J.. E. Hewitt (Wnngnnui). Mr. P. Mungnvin, of Porirua. was elevated to take the place of Mr. C. C. Bricklnnd, of Cambridge, who is leaving. Other officers elected were:—President, Mr. A. Matthews; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. Short (Fcilding) and W. D. Hunt (Wellington); secretary, Mr; E. J. Wadkrill; treasurer, Mv. W. F. Jacobs.

In his presidential address, 'lac president said that then' were only 33 flocks in the South Island which were not in the flock 1)0011. At, the present time there were 522 flocks in tho flock book in New Zealand, covering an area from the North- Cape to the Bluff, and it was anticipated that the number woiiM he naturally increased by tho end "of December, 1919. The figures were considerably in advance of the flocks in the Kentish flock book. Personally ho was ot opinion that breeders in New Zealand went- too far in respect to the breeding of Bomney rams. High prices had been obtained for them as was tho c>;se vn England, but in England breeders did not keep so .many rams as was i!«ne in the Dominion. It was advisablo for tho New Zealand breeders to take special care •in regard to keeping tho constitution tr)> to a high standard. It was certain that In the near future more rams would be bred in New Zealand than thero was demand for, end in order to meet such a contingency the council had Deen making inquiries with tho object of opening 'up outside markets. During the past year, GOO rams and 360 ewes wcro exported from England. 'Most of the sheep went to Canada and South America. Canada was a, now mr.rket for Romueys. and if shiping facilities could bo secured there was no reason why the Dominion should not export stud sheep to Janntb. New' Zealand could breed Rornney Marsh 6heep of the highest standard, and he was hopeful that the time was approaching when the demnnd would be a great one. Mr. W. Porrv OVairarapa) pointed out that the, sale of stud sheep at MaMcrton 'had been so successful that; ho advocated an extension of operations, encompassing the Wnirarapa and East Coast of the North Island. Eventually it was hoped that a salo representing all tho breeds of the Dominion would be held annually. Champion shields Cono for the North Island and the other for the South Tsland) wore allotted to tho Auckland A* and P.

Society and the Otngo A. and P. Society, while tho ¥1100161' Memorial Shield was allocated to the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Association.