Marlborough Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1881.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 291, 30 September 1881, Page 2

Marlborough Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1881.

In connection with the annual exhibitions of stock and produce which arc held in this and other districts one of the chief difficulties presenting themselves is that of obtaining thoroughly competent judges whose decisions will give general satisfaction. It is sometimes the case that enthusiastic members of the Association enter exhibits for the mere sake of assisting its funds, and without the slightest hope of carrying off a prize ; but as a general rule it may be inferred that each entry is made with full confidence on the part of its owner that it is the best in its class and he is usually inclined to dispute tlie decision of the judges if it fails to take a prize. Comparison of his own with the animals which have won prizes, may, perhaps, cause his faith in hispreconceived judgment to wave ■, and after mature deliberation lie may come to the conclusion that the judges were right after all, but, for the time being, it is certainly distasteful to him to have to admit that his cherished ideas were wrong. The task of a judge is difficult and somewhat invidious at the best of times,, as he is compelled to discharge his duties without foarjor favors with the certainty in view that lie must, of necessity/ decide against some exhibitor’s fixed opinion. It is absolute 1 y necessary that to popularise the -Shows, the judges must not only he thoroughly competent to deliver sound decisions, but the exhibitors and public must also be convinced that they are qualified to do so, and will exercise their judgment in an unbiassed manner. For many reasons it is difficult to obtain local men who combine these requirements in themselves, as they may he the best judges in the in the world so far as actual knowledge of the qualities necessary is concerned, hut there is always a suspicion that their acquaintance with the stock exhibited will cause them to, even unconsciously, warp their judgment. For this reason, therefore, it is always desirable that at least a majority of the judges should lie selected from other districts, and we trust the Marlborough Association will take steps to secure at its coming Show the presence of qualified judges from other parts. There can he no question that the attention thus paid to the interests of exhibitors would he duly recognised by them, and, we believe any extra expense to which the Society is put will be amply recouped by the additional entries which will be made. In an Otago come ,n] ary wo find the following remarks in reference to this subject, which are well worthy of perusal

“ It must In; Bonin iu niiml that correct awards at agricultural shows furnish valuable lessons to the fariiijji<r and pastoral community, whilst if incorrect they inflict serious wrongs on the public and exhibitors; the public are misled because a false standard of excellence is Set up and an injustice done the unsuccessful exhibitors by wluit is virtually a misrepresentation of the merits of their exhibits. Take for example the case of an exhibitor whose business it is to laved stud stock for sale; lie does

not show for the value of the prizes, but for the estimation in which if successful, all the animals in his stud, herd, or flock will be held by intending purchasers. Mistakes in awarding the prizes in the showyard extend farther, therefore, than to the stock exhibited, for it is possible they may depreciate a whole flock or herd, and thereby inflct a serious wrong on a breeder. Reliable adjudications, whilst being instructive to the general public, operate beneficially in another direction : they teacli competitions the real merits of their exhibits. Owners of stock are too often disposed to regard theirs as super-excellent, and can only be convinced to the contrary when they know the animals have been submitted to skilled judgment on what has not been inaptly called the convincing ground—the showyards. An unsuccessful exhibitor, if really anxious to improve his stock, will diligently and dispassionately compare Ids own favorites with the prizetakers in their respective sections, carefully noting the deficiencies, with the linn resolution to d'seard prejudices and utilise the information obtained.’’ Our contemporary goes on to say : “ This part of the subject leads us on to compare the demeanour of unsuccessful exhibitors in the Colonics to that of those who have suffered defeat at any of the leading Shows in the three Kingdoms, and we regret to say the comparison must be markedly unfavorable to the colonists. How common it is to see in almost every shosvyard here excited individuals declaiming in unmeasured terms against the awards, button-holing every one they can lay hands on, and pouring forth angry and unscrupulous accusations of partiality against the judges, the Committee, and everyone connected with the exhibition. As a rule, it will be found on investigation that the louder and more violent, the party the more unjust and groundless the complaint. Apart from the ignorance displayed, and the bad taste of such conduct, it operates by its frequency in deterring many from giving their services as judges. At exhibitions in the Old Country, on the other hand, even if a seeming injustice be done an exhibit, the owner, instead of indulging in violent declamation and boring his acquaintances (the officials would not submit to annoyance), relies on the discrimination of the visitors to the showyards, and bears his grievance silently and with a good grace. We strongly commend this example to the consideration of exhibitors here, and would earnestly urge that the nuisance of turbulent and noisy unsuccessful exhibitors should be discouraged und abated. ’