FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 22, 16 June 1914, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand 'held its annual meeting at Invoreargill last week. Mr J. W. Blair (retiring president) wag in the chair, and there was a large attendance of members from all parts of the Dominion.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Tho Chairman said, it would be noticed that the membership Jirnl increased to 421. It was the intention of tho Council to poibLish a volume annually, and a big effort \vas about to bo made by their energetic secretary to publish tneir second volume this year. In order to do this it was necessary to have'returns of additional .produce of mares already entered and other entries as soon as possible, as the work of compilation, together with the investigation o? pedigrees and tilie supervising of tlio publishing, occupied a good deal of time. The first volume spoke for itself. It had been reviewed with considerable favor in the Dominion and Australia, 'and lie 'believed it would strengthen the hold on the Australian market, and help to open up new ones. In this connection the (speaker desired to commend to notice the '•c'honie for advertising New Zealand Clydesdales at the Panama Pacifis Exposition, to be held in San Francisco next year. It seemed to him that an opportunity was thus given of bringing tneir horses' under the notice of the Agricultural public of British Columbia, the Pacific States

and of 'South America. Horses sent, •would, no doubt, lose the breeding and .stow seasons ihiere, and he was not in a position to say whether the loss en- • tailed would be recompensed or not tov 'sending Now Zealand exhibit'*; but in any case the opportunity to show their stock aibroad was worth consideration, in view of the generous offers, of the New Zealand Railway Department and the Union Steamship 00. to assist breeders of stock by free conveyance. He was pleased to notice that seventeen district A. and P. Associations were for competition among stock bred he hoped that next season would see more enrolled. He would point out that medals offered under thigi scheme were for competition nhong stock bred by exhibitors who must be local members of the societies. The Veterinary I Examination scheme 'luid been taken adI vantage of, and altogether the work ' of thie society had met with encourag- . ing results.

Mr Alex. Hunter, of Hawera, in seconding the motion, paid a tribute to the new Stud Book and its preparation. In regard to the membership, lie pointed out that in 1:912 it was 217; in 11H3 it was 349j and it now stoou at 421. The assets of the societv in 1012 were worth £727; in 19K1 £775-, and tlmy mow amounted to £Bll. Their irtcome in 1912 was £917 (at that time there was no outlay), and in 1913 it'was £483, and in 1914 it was, so far. £530. They had on deposit in 1912 £479, the next year £424, and now the 'sum was £IOO. This showed the healthy financial standing of the Society. He called attention to an article in . a recent agricultural paper which stated that farmers had disposed of their motor tractors and reverted to the use of horses again in Canada, so members need have «o despair yet as regarded the draught Morse. The speaker went on eulogise their first Stud Book, which was a credit to the Societv and to the secretary.

Mr. J. A. Johnstone made flattering inference to the sterling work of Mr Knntor in the matter of nrseuring valuable mutter for t'lie Stud Book, .which. 1i« thought, would prove of inestimable value to breeders as a whole. Tile secretary and editinff officials ■ also came in for congratulations on thiß jk count. COUNCIL MEETTCO. A meeting of the Council took place prior to the annual meeting. A letter was received from the Panama Pacific Exposition authorities in connection with the exhibit of New Zealand Clydesdale stock at the Exhibition. It was mentioned that £IO,OOO had been set aside for prizejffor' horses of various breeds, and breeders' associations were offering additional prizes and trophies. The horses sent forward would require to leave the Dominion in September next, and would probably be judged about October 1 to- October 12. No charge was to be made for space, stall rent, or entry fees. The authorities were providing suitable accommodation free for stock, which would also be carried to and from America free of charge by the Eailway Department and by the Union S,S. Co. Further particulars .were anticipated. It was decided to leave the matter to the discretion of individual members as to whether they' would show at the Exposition or otherwise. With regard to the market for Clydesdale horses and the greatly reduced values, there was naturally some depression amongst owners, hut they have seen the day when values were infinitely cheaper. He was certain the market would recover; indeed, at the present time for really first-class Clydesdale stock, both for stud purposes and for ordinary work, there was a good demand, not at fancy prices, but at good payable prices where the type of animal, animals having a combination of weight und quality, came up to the standard required by purchasers. Within the 'last month or so, there had been buyers ■Visiting this market to procure heavyweight, active geldings suitable for 'heavy draught purposes, and Although they were prepared to pay £55 a piece for them, they could not get any num- t ber of the class tliey required. Whenever a good mare or filly came 'into the market, there were plenty of buyers for her. He had ji.st received word from abroad that a sale of a yearling entire colt had taken place at 2000 guineas. This was easily a record and showed how highly the forced was thought of and the hold it was gaining on all markets of the world. If they could produce good ( animals they could he assured of getting markets not only in Australia but also in America and other parts of the world, much the same as this fact applied to the ordinary industries of this flourishing and rich Dominion. The report was unanimously adopted. ELECTION' OK OFFICERS.' The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Mi - . Alexr. Hunter; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. J. W. Harding (Waipuktmiu), Wilfred Johnstone (l'apatoetoe), .lames (low (Wingatui), ami Thos. Logan (Utama): Council: Messrs. Hugh C;'iii|iliell (ilawke's l!ay). A. E. Hardin!.' (Maimawhare), L. I'. Hamilton (Mu n!i l;''i i). James "Knight (I'Yiitlim:'). -lames \\. | V.lair (Outram). W. .1. J. Charters ('Mosi giid), 11. E. Damenbiirg (Waikonroi. and | .T. A. .Tolmslone (Dunediu): auditor. Mr. Peter Harr.