SHEEPMEN AT VARIANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1631, 20 December 1905, Page 3

SHEEPMEN AT VARIANCE.

THE FLOCK BOOK,

[Manawatu Standard.] There was considerable discussion at the meeting of the A. and P. Association’s ' general committee on a point which arose out of a letter sent by Mr R. S. Abraham.

Mr Abraham had made a number of suggestions as to the conduct of future shows, the members generally agreeing that they were of a valuable nature. The portion of the letter round which the discussion centred was that in which he referred to one alteration which, in his opinion, would place the show above competition with any other in the colony, in sheep classes at any rate. He referred to the elimination of the rule that none but the sheep entered, or eligible for the Flock Book be taken. The letter said there was very strong feeling regarding this rule in Hawke’s Bay. Almost every prominent breeder had discussed the question with him, and in one or two cases they expressed their intention of not showing at Palmerston until it was deleted. He happened to be in Mr Nelson’s house when telegrams arrived from the Association and Mr Wheeler asking for his entries, and he had heard Mr Nelson instruct his clerk to send a refusal. Mr Abraham had asked his reasons, and of these the principal one (with the exception of one or two pin pricks) was that they would not take his halfbred sheep. He said, “ I have gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to find out the best paying farmer’s sheep in New Zealand. I believe I have succeeded, but at the same time I wish to contrast my results with theirs, and so educate the managers of different properties and others ’’. Mr Abraham said he was in a position to know that the rule blocked large entries from Messrs Donnelly and Watt, besides Mr Nelson, of classes of sheep most instructive to farmers. He was also in a

position to say positively that recently sheep not entered in the Flock Book were entered for the show, and were awarded prizes against sheep which were in the Flock Book. He asked “ where would the Flock Book be now if those representing the pastoral industry immediately after the Flood at the time of Noah had the same antediluvian ideas as some of my friends on your committee?” From then on till now the sheep had been improved till various classes were found which suited almost every climate and every soil, but now the rulers of the North Island Flock Book Association of New Zealand arose and said, “ We will have no more of this improvement in the breeds of sheep ; we will not have farmers educated to use any other class of sheep but those which are in our book.’' He did not undervalue the Flock Book, nor the services of those who compiled it, but if it was to stop the progress of the Show and of the country in tho slightest degree, then away ’with it. He said he knew that Slack Bros, were interested in this matter

but their sheep were eligible if the owners would but trouble to enter them-. Mr Cohen remarked that this was a very debatable subject and he doubted if they could give sufficient time to it at that meeting. Mr Slack was in favor of Mr Abra ham’s suggestion, as he considered that the expense of registration in the book prevented breeders from exhibiting. He knew of four large breeders who exhibited at up country shows and would do so here if the restrictions were removed. He would like a provision to allow sheep ! that were eligible but were not entered in . the Flock Book to be shown.

Mr G. Wheeler strongly opposed any change whatsoever. This matter had been thrashed out long ago and it was not necessary to go over it again. Mr Abraham had inferred that it was only the Flock Book restrictions that had kept Nelson Bros, away, but the pinpiicks he had pooh-poohed were very much deeper than he perhaps thougnt. Nelson Bros’ half-breed sheep could not be shown because there was no class for them. Were they to hive classes for all half-breed sheep ? he asked. Several other members took part in the discussion, and a series of amendments were proposed, Mr Stuckey finally moving that Mr Abrahams be thankee for his letter, and that it be referred t( the incoming committee,

Subsequently Mr Wheeler said' the contention that Mr Nelson’s crossbred sheep were not brought to the late Show on account of the rule requiring entry or acceptance for the Flock Book was ridiculous. If the [rule was struck out still those sheep could not be exhibited because there were no classes for them. It never could be intended, even by the most enthusiastic breeder, to show a crossbred Lincoln Border Leicester with either or both the Lincoln and Border Leicester classes, and therefore it must be clear that it was the want of variety 01 of separate classes that kept the sheep away, though pens were always provider for special sheep for exhibition.