ALLEGED "SHEEP FAKING."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10183, 8 March 1911, Page 5

ALLEGED "SHEEP FAKING."

MR PERRY'S VIEWS. Mr William Perry writes to the editor of the Age as follows: "Having read a letter which appeared in Saturday's "Dominion" on the question of the way sheep are got up for show purposes, over the signature of H. G. Williams, I cannot let it go by unanswered. In his letter he quotes a part of his wool-brokers' report as follows: "i'nere was in almost every lot some very poor bred fleeces, quite unlike the usual breed of your wool. The quality was tho .same as the other fleeces, but they had a hairy; tip to the istaple, and this will go further down the staple unless some fresh blood is introduced. From a wool point of view, always avoid buying sheep when the staple shows a hairy tip. It is a sure sign of bad breeding.' Now, Sir, I am open to wager a £5 note that there is not one of the frequenters of the show ring who has received such, a condemnatory report of . his wool.- My own has just come to hand;, and it reads:—'Twelve bales greasy super Romney, 44 quality, good length, well bred, good lustre.' I will leave your readers to draw their own conclusions, but 1 would suggest to Mr Williams that his time would be more profitably employed taking lessons from Mr Sam • Wood than writing to the papers."

OPINION OF ANOTHER

SETTLER

__Some interesting remarks -were made yesterday by Mr W. H. Buick, the-well-known Romney breeder, in an interview Avitli an.- Age representative on the question; of alleged show "faking." Mr Buick stated that lie was thorougliiy m symp.d.'-' thy with the views expressed by Mr H. G. WilEams in this matter. He was quite opposed to "faking" in every way, either in regard (to clipping, oiling, singing, colouring, or anything else. The remarks made by Mr John Bidwill in regard to the variation in the length of the wool on a first prize sheep shown at a recent show /were to the, point. , Tfie variation, was quite . apparent <to the naked-eye,' wilthout the assistance of 'a '"rule.". Speaking on tlie 'question 'of rugging sliow sheep, ;Mr Buicb'did not consider there wasany haim in "the use of a light cov- j ering when' necessary. He was strongly opposed to the practise of | ''oiling," on the ground that patch- 1 es of inferior wool could be "made up" for snow purposes by its use. He was equally emphatic in regard: to "trimming," which practise he considered should be abolished. The trace of "hairy tips" could be completely destroyed by trimming. Sheep should be shorn as much as possible under natural' conditions. Mr Buick said that the only "colouring" which lie believed in was that produced from the natural dipping of sheep and' no other. It was done by means of a spray, and was simply resorted: to to. put a "bloom" on the wool. Sheep should ■be shorn, in (the usual way, and at the right period, and then left alone. .He did not altogether agree with Mr Bidwill's contention that the Associations were to blame. The judges were the men who should put down practise of "faking," and if it could' not be accomplished under the present system then they should ■consider the matter of appointing stipendiary judges. He held that the rules 1 of the Association in regard to "faking" were -a. "dead letter." The case of a "faked" sheep referred to by Mr Bidwill was one of the most glaring that had oome under his notice. Mr C. Bannister, wool-classer, of Masterfcon, informed a representative of (the Age yesterd'ay that he saw more "faked" sheep at the recent Ram Fair than previously, and he had been a constant visitor for the past ten years.