ARGENTINE SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 20

ARGENTINE SHOW.

The sub-committee of the New Zealand Romnsy Marsh Sheep-breeders' Association set up for the purpose of arranging for exhibits being scmt to the great exhibition to be held in the Argentine next year ■met at Palmeaston on Monday, 9th inst.* whie-n the subject was discussed at length.. Oorrespondein-ce was reaxi from Hon. Thos. Fergus (Otago), Vice-consul for the- Argentine, stating that stock would be; admitted .for show purposes at Buenos Aires under special quarantine- conditions. Mr G. C. Wiheeler stated that he had waited on the shipping companies with, reference to thd cost of transport, and they had asked, for information as to how many sheep and how many people would be likely to go. They held out libtle hope of a ship returning here direct. Mr Short suggested that' if they could get a subsidy from the Government they might ehartar a vessel and make their own arrangements. Mi* Wheeler pointed out fchSt the charter of a ship would cost a large isum because there was no back freight. It goes without saying that New Zealand should be well represented at Buenoo Aires next year withf sheep of all the breeds reared here, and why not cattle also? We have Hereford*, shorthorns, Ajrshires. and polled Angus of tho best, and it should appeal to breeders that this is an opportunity of competing with English breeders. Some prominent breeders both in Australia and New Zealand have been endeavouring to get thft English Government to remove- the embargo against colonial stock entering Home ports, stating as their reason that they wished to comipete with their stock at Home shows. They should therefore take advantage of the- next best opportunity and send their sheep and cattle to the Argentine. Be it remembered that the best of Gireat Britain's cattle, and' especially Lincoln sheep, have of late years gone there, so that to gain a prize at Buenos Aires will be equal to one at the Royal. Some discussion took place over, the conditions and regulations of the show* Mr Perry pointed out that there was- no provision for placing sheep on. exhibition onlyf It was decided to write to the Consul pointing out the disadvantages under which colonial sheep would be competing against locally-bred sheep, and asking tha* provision be made for allowing colonial! shesp on exhibition only. Mr Perfy aaidi that if "this were not allowed, he was afraid] it would make a great difference in thej number of pbeep sent to the dhow. _ Although 7 it seeans as if the exhibition is to) be somewhat of the nature of a. show and) fair conjoined, still the main object in sending stock from here should be to sjej ho v our sheep and' cattde compare with the' South American and English stock. It is not numbers, therefore, that is so much) to be desired as quality if an export trade?

An improvea separator. The mecnanisM of the latest models of the Baltic Creaq* Separators has been still further improved^, -and the results obtained by ueew ecKpse those of any other make. In faot, bo djjfi parent is the superiority that rival makers] are now copying — so f ar as patent rigbief will allow— the Baltic models. ' Mr HJ'« Huthnence, New Plymouth, referring to hiA Baltic separator, states; "It haa not cogo me a penny for the 11 months' use, $v§s the rubber rings are etill good. I am quit^ satisfied with the machine, and I cannoi find a single fault." Prices and perticuV lars from J. B. MacEwan anj Co. t gol<f agents, Dun.cdi*.

is to be the result, whioh everyone hopes •will "be the case. Breeders should remember that at one time there was a promising trade with Australia, which was spoilt by numbers and lack of quality. In the opinion of the writer 50 sheep of each of the most prominent breeds is quite sufficient, and would probably do the Dominion greater credit than a shipload. Mr E. Short moved — " That the secretary of the Buenos Aires show be written to pointingout the disadvantages which Australian and New Zealand sheep would be under if only English judges wore appointed, and to urge that New Zealand and Australian judges should also be appointed to cooperate with the English judges." This, coming from Mr Short, is hardly understandable. After returning from the Royal Show jn England two years ago he expressed the opinion through the press that the colonial Romneys -were better than the Konmeys were at Home, and that if the embargo were removed prohibiting the importation of sheep and a proper system of judging were instituted, English breeders would probably receive a very •desirable awakening. Mt Short now finds fault with she English judges. Yet at the same time he bought Royal prize-takers to bring out here to compete with other sheep from the Royal that hud taken the chief prizes here. Besides, in how many instances have imported sheep beaten tha local, sheep at shows during the last 20 years, showing ' that there is very little 'difference between the ideas of the Englishman and the colonial with regard to the character of animate. It seems infra dig. to write suggesting that colonial judges be appointed. We may take it that the Argentine stockmen will appoint judges in whom they have confidence, and that these judges will select as champion sheep or cattle only wfcat will come up to Argentine requirements. What Australian and New' Zealand breeders have to do is to meet euoh requirement if they wish to make a market for their stud stock. A foreign buyer is not going to change his ideas in order to take our stock. Even supposing colonial judges were appointed for Buenos Aires, and our stock took first /prize, better by far that their own judges give us commendatory tickets, as these •would be of far more value thai) first prizes from colonial judges. Besides, it shows a craven spirit on the part of breeders that they should try to dictate to the managers of the Buenos Aires show > whs* judjges should be appointed under the conditions which they will send their sheep ±here. It seems to indicate that they have not the same confidence in the merits of their stock as they have been so freely expressing for years. Although the committee of the Romney Marsh jSheepbreoders' Association decided in this way it is not probable that their action will be endorsed by breeders, generally. As a matter of fact, whew some of the Roniney breeders understand what such -action implies they will feel that their reputation has been needlessly endaaagered, as they along with lAnccHm and other breeders have po neason to have diffidence in compet:.r.-g an any part of the world. The same cap be said "with regard to oaifctlt and horses. Perhaps they might not take- championships, but they would not bring disjrrace on the land we Kv© in. Better take a lickinjr standing on your dignity than want to call in the assistance of a biassed umpire, j The Buenos Aires show is a grand oppor- _ tunity for New Zealand advertising- her live . stock, and breeders are entitled to be helped by the State in the same way as other industries have been helped at exhibitions in foreign lands." At the same time there is no usa in eendintg any animal to South America unless it carries % certificate of purity of blood and is true to the type of the breed it represents. If a few of the best we have go forward they will not disgrace the Dominion, and probahly will advance our export trade largely. ANTIQUA OVIS. (