SHEEP-BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10197, 27 March 1911, Page 6

SHEEP-BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

COLOURING SHEEP

CHRISTCHOROH, March 23,

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheep-Breeders' Association, Mr H. D". Vavasour (Bleniuvn). moved j "that no member of uhe association ' shall exhibit sßsep at any show in the South Island thai are : oubufud. and all sheep dipped within four, months of their exhibition shall be deemed to be artificially coloured. This shall apply to the Down breeds only." Tn speaking to the motion, Mr Vavasour said that the Association. &hould fall into line with she views expressed j.t the annual meeting of the A. aid P. Association last year. That association had issued a general instruction that if judges awarded a prize it was to be their opinion that the sheep were not artificially coloured. If a sheep was not worthy of being shown in its natural colour it was not worthy of being shown at all. He considered that colouring was tantamount to dishonesty, and it was the duty of the SheepBreeders' Association to help the A. and P. Association to stop the practice altogether. Mr T. S. Little contended that the question was outside the sphere of .the Association altogether, and was a matter entirely conoerning the A. and P. Association. An army of inspectors would be needed, and endless bother would be caused The Chairman said he would like to see the motion amended in the direction of rejecting from the flock book any member of the Association permantly disqualified by any A. and P. Association.

Mr H; V. Fulton pointed out that according i»...the Stock Act, sheep must be dipped- in certain months of the and if the proposal was carried, how were breeders to comply with the Act.

•Mr.A. Murdock, of' Southland, said that sheep might be received that 1 were all of different colours, and how ' were they to tell if they were artiI ficially coloured or not. He was opi 1 posed to in any shape or ! form.

Mr,J. Snowderi said that the colour of the Soil would make a big difference tor the colour of the sheep. In reply to a question by Mr.-Orbell, Mr Vavasour said that he had seen glaring instances of'colouring,- not only in the Old Country, but at the Christchurch show.

The Chairman then put the motion, which was lost on • the voices.