BEST YET HELD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 17 November 1939, Page 10

BEST YET HELD

WAIROA FAT LAMBS RECORD ENTRY OF 73 FIELD DAY AT SWIFTS (Special lo tbe lleralil.) WAIROA, this day. Despite the fact that the competition was robbed of some of its interest this year due to the outbreak of war and the fact that no award is to he made for the Meat Board's Cup. there was a record entry of 73 pens for the VVairoa district fat lamb competition held under the auspices of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society at the works of Swift (New Zealand) Company, Limited, yesterday, and the standard attained was easily the highest ever experienced in this district.

Judging in the pens took place in the morning and on the hooks in the afternoon, farmers from all parts of the district being present at the works to take part in the field day. The following are the detailed results of the judging:—

In the Pens Pen 55. W. Carson, Ardkeen .. 1 Pen 4. Kairangi Station, Te Uhi 2 Pen 47, Riverina Station, Mam-

in a ru ) Pen 69. Opoho Station, Opoho .. 4 Pen 53, T. H. Hall, Lake road .. 5 On the Hooks

Pen 4. Kairanga Station. Te Uhi. weights 351 b., 2!)lb„ 321 b. .. 1 Pen 32. F. Harrison. Paeroa, 301 b., , 311 b., 311 b 2 Pen 40, R. Hook. Whakaki, 331 b.. 351 b., 351 b 3 Pen 29, Mrs. Watson and Sons, Frasertown, 291 b., 331 b., 311 b. .. 4 Pen 71, Mrs. A, .Toblin, Tawera, 341 b.. 331 b., .331 b 5

In addition to the pens awarded prizes in the on-the-hooks judging, the following five pens were selected lo make up the 10 pens which would have been sent to London for judging under normal circumstances, the owners of which will be awarded Meat Board diplomas: Pen 3. Kairangi Station. Te Uhi; Pen 20, M. Connell, Waiatai; Pen 36, A. Hickline and Son, Nuhaka; Pen 54, W. Carson, Ardkeen; Pen 04, P. Carroll, Nuhaka. Judges’ Comment Commenting on the entries, the judges of the lambs in the pens. Mr. G. T. Dyer, Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Meat Company, Hastings, and Mr. D. McKay. Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Limited, Hastings, stated that the lambs had certainly improved on last year, and were the best yet seen in the competition in Wairoa. There were a number of good lambs which they considered overweight, and in their final judging they had 10 pens which they found difficult to separate. The lambs in the winning pen were a very even lot. and, in their opinion, these were most likely to meet the requirements of the Home market. During the judging they singled out what they considered to be the best individual lamb in the competition. This was entered by Swifts, and in the opinion of the judges it was an outstanding lamb, capable of winning an award in any show as a single entry. That the quality of the lambs in Wairoa lias improved out of site was the conclusion arrived at by the judge of the entries on the hooks, Mr. C. Furby. He stated that on the general average the lambs were heavier this year than last, and the standard was exceptionally good. The champion lamb, exhibited by Mrs. Watson and Sons, of Frasertown. was outstanding so far as both quality and finish were concerned. “A Credit to the Growers”

At the conclusion of the judging Mr. A. T. Carroll, president of the society, extended a welcome to those present, adding that he wished to thank all for (he manner in which they had supported the competition. The standard attained would go a long way in this country and the entries generally were a credit to the growers. The sample seen to-day definitely showed an upward grade, which must be considered very gratifying to all, particularly to Swift and Company.

Mr. Carroll extended a welcome to Mr. H. McClerie, president of Swifts International, and expressed the hope that he was pleased with the effort. He extended special thanks to Mr. H. Crichton, manager of the works, Mr. F. H. Mardon, and other members of the staff for their excellent co-opera-lion. Congratulations were extended also to the winners and to those unplaced who had made the running very hard. He hoped the enthusiasm displayed to-day would go on for all time. Mr. Carroll concluded by extending a welcome to Mr. E. E. C. Boyes. headmaster of the Wairoa District High School, who recently returned from a trip abroad, and also a party of High School boys who were present at the works to participate in the field day. Quality Praised

Mr. T. LeC. Fowdrell. a representative of this area on the electoral committee of the 'New Zealand Meat Board, endorsed the remarks of Mr. Carroll with regard to the quality of the lambs. He had never seen a better display in either Hawke’s Bay or Poverty Bay, and he doubted very much if there had ever been a better display in New Zealand. It was a credit to the district and lie felt sure every member of the Meat Board would be delighted with it. He paid a tribute to the services of Swift and Company for the district and for their co-operation with the society in running the competition. Mr. Boyes returned thanks to the company for the invitation to the pupils to participate in the field day, and Frank Aldridge, one of the senior pupils, also thanked the company. The next speaker was Mr. McClerie, who expressed appreciation of the remarks concerning the company. “I don’t think we have done any more than we should have done to develop the district,” he stated. "So far as the lambs are concerned, I can see you need no assistance from us. I have never seen finer lambs in the United States.’’ Mr. McClerie said that lie was very pleased to see the manner in which the people of the district were co-operat-ing with the company, and added that he was extremely grateful that he had had the opportunity of being present on this occasion. He would not have missed this day.