Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1911. "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10181, 6 March 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1911. "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

Mr H. G. Williams, of Masterton,. has.,opened up a very debatable question. He has asserted that the> public is deceived by the practise adopted by sheep-breeders of presenting their .stud sheep at agricultural shovvsi in a'"faked" condition. Mr Williams lias defined the terni "raked" as a, sheep whiah has been "painted, housed, rugged, oiled, dyed 1 , trimmed, shaped or stuffed. " He has not sought to show, however, that any of these, practises, other than that of ' 'trimming,'' has the effect'of deceiving the public. It is true that wool which is hairy in' the tip -is regarded' as of "inferior quality,, and' that the trimming of: sheep, removes these tips. As, however, the evidence shows that all sheep, more or less, which are put in the show-pen, are trimmed, and that, under expert treatment, it is impossible to detect the trimming, the difficulty of dealing with the case is at once apparent. The only remedy would appear to be for prospective buyers to examine the flock from which they propose buying, to satisfy themselves Mat the tips of the wool are not hairy. It Avill be said, of course, that if this has to be dbne the value of a show for determining the- quality of sheep is depreciated. As against this it must be remembered 'that fiie tip of the .staple of wool does not constitute everything. The judge, when he enters the show-pen, assumes that the exhibits have been trimmed, and makes his award on the head, ears, legs, and shape of body, together with the quality of the wooL He may at times'be misled by the "shaping" of a sheep in the trimming, but if he exercises reasonable care he will not. Moreover, as Agricultural and Pastoral Associations generally make provision for tdie disqualification of a sheep which is unfairly/ shorn., there are very few who will take the risk, of deliberately "shaping." Mr Williams doubtless feels, as a great many settlers feel, that the practise of show "faking" is becoming too common. If he closely analyses the question, however, he will find that the evil, if such" it can be termed, is not as pronounced as he imagines, and that the application of a, remedy for "trimming" in its. Ordinary sense is practically impossible.