MEETING OF BREEDERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 December 1913, Page 6

MEETING OF BREEDERS.

THE QUESTION OF PRIVATE « SALES.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION

A well-attended! mooting ot breeders was hold in the A. and Rooms at Ma«storto» yesterday, to consider the question <:f tlie holding of a private sale of rams by Mr W. Perry, and its relation to the annual rain fair. The chair was occupied by Mr 0. €. Cooper (president), who read the following circular convening the meeting:— "Dear Sir.—At a meeting of the General Committee of this Association to-day, an application tor the u-se of the So I way ram ring and pons was received and discussed. I lie application was made by Mr Yv Perry, for the purpose of holding the first annual sale of bis rams on January 27th, 1914. As a number of prominent breeders in the district (menhers of this Association) are of opinion that such a sale will be detrimental to the Association's annual ram fair, my committee deem it advisable that] the matter should be fully discussed, and have appointed a sub-committee consisting of Messrs R. Gray, W. H. Buick, A. D. McMnster, Bland Rayner, D. McGregor, W. D. Watson and R. Cooper lo meet breeders on Wednesday next (1 /til irist..\ at ,2.30 p.m., in the A. and *l*. Association's Rooms, Perry -street, Masterton. Your attendance is particularly requested." The President read a Jotter from Mr Holmes-Warren, in which it was suggested' that a sale hold just prior to the ram fair kill the ram fair. The letter of Mr Holmes-War-ren was endorsed by Messrs W. E. and J. 0. Bidwill. A further letter was read from Mr Holmes-Warren, stating that he was unfortunately unable to be present at the meeting. He stated, however, that he was of opinion that if private sales were held in the show-grounds, it would be good-bye to the ram fairs.

Mr W. E. Bidwill also wrote, stating that lie was of opinion that Mr Holmes-Warren was acting splely in the interests of the Association. The President said the matter should he discussecl from the point of view of the Association, and the effect that a sale would have on the ram fair. The Committee of the Association had decided to hold the natter over until after this meeting. The President" expressed the opinion that Mr Perry, as a strong supporter of the Association, would be influenced by the decision of this meeting. Mr D. McGregor stated that the question was not a n'ew one. Mr Perry had spoken for some yearn about holding a special sale. It had been mentioned that in the past the best of Mr' Perry's rams had been sold privately. - If was thought that if a public sale were. held, everybody would have the same chance. Mr McGregor considered that the sale would be in the best interests of Mr Perry andi the district. It would bring buyers from Australia and all parts of the Dominion. He did not consider that the sale would affect the Association detrimentally. On the contrary, he thought it would benefit the Association. In the past, Mr Perry had sold most of his sheep before the rain fair, and lie had not flooded the market. So far as establishing a precedent was concerned, Mr McGregor did not think any harm would be done if otlfer large owners were to follow the example of Mr Perry. "If they do so, more power to them," .said Mr McGregor.

The President asked Mr J. 0. Bidwill (who was present) if he would address the meeting. Mr Cooper said it was not desired that any split should be made in the Association. Mr J. 0. Bidwill said there was not the slightest danger of a split, so far as the Lower Valley was concerned. It was thought that if a sale were held at too long a period before the ram fair, the buyers would not come back. "So far as the Lower Valley is concerned l ," said Mr Bidwill, "our hearts are too much in this Association to allow of a split." (Hear, liear.) Mr W. Perry - explained that the date of his sale" had been fixed so that it would not affect the Hastings or Masterton ram fair.

Mr James McGregor said that for years past the qnestion of holding private sales had been discussed. His late brother (Mr Duncan McGregor) had been of the opinion that rams should be put up at auction instead of being sold privately. Mr McGregor thought that Mr Perry's sale would be a good thing for the district. In answer to a question, the President said Mr Perry proposed to hold his sale three weeks before the ram fair. Mr Quinton Donald expressed the opinion that Mr Perry's sale would be in the best interests of the district. He was of opinion that the further date the sale was held away from the ram, fair, the better it would be for the Association.

Mr W. H. Beetham giivo an illus- ! tration of a private sale of Southdown rams in the district at £3 apiece, which would have brought seven guineas a week or two later. Mr F. \V. H. Rummer thought the kind of sale proposed by .Mr Perry should be encourage-d. It way not for the Association to consider how the sale would aftect other breeders. These breeders could well look after themselves. There should be absolute lrec-trade so far as the Association was concerned. Mr Rummer : thought that regulationa migbt be framed for the holding of private sale.

Mr 1). McGregor moved, "That this meeting of breeders is of _opinion that.it would be in the best interests of the di strict that the A. and P. Association should allow its grounds to be used for breeders' special private ram sales." Mr J. Strang seconded the resolution. Mr W. Perry said lie had no idea, in holding the sale, of doing anything that would injuriously affect the Association or any other owner. He had been encouraged to think, when at Auckland, that the .sale would attract many buyers. Mr E. G. Allen asked what was the fee for the .sale of rams at the ram fair. It had been said that the fee for stud rams was 1 too high. Mr 1). McGregor said the fee at the ordinary sale was Is per ram. The President stated that the fee for stud rams had been fixed at 10s to provide against certain abuses. Mr W. J. Welch-pointed out that they wdukl require to bo very careful in framing their resolution, or they would have dealers buying rubbish at other fairs 1 and selling it here.

Mr J. 0, BkiwiU endorsed tlie opinion of Mr Welch. After further discission,_ the resolution was put and carried unanimously. ■ \ The meeting then discussed the questiotn of a ram sale advertised to he held by Messrs Turnbull and Co. in the Waipoua sale yards on January 15th. i . The President (Mr Cooper) left the room while this* matter was being discussed, and Mr Quinton Donald was voted to the chair. Mr Donald said it was a question whether the sale was going to interfere with the ram fair, and whether they should ask Messrs Turnbull and 00. to postpone the sale until after the fair. Mr James McGregor stated that it only aged rams were being sold, no injury could be done to the ram fail . Mr J. Strang stated that he had sold some of his aged rams to er. He would not have sold them if he thought they were to be offered at auction. Mr R. Cooper said there sliould be no objection to a dealer holding a sale of rams, if he thought fit. There was no sale for aged rams at the ram fair. ' . Mr J. Strang considered that if the auctioneers were going to hold sales of rama, the ram fair might be interfered With. Mr It. Gray did not think that the I matter was one which came under the I jurisdiction of the Association. DealI ers and others should be allowed to sell as 1 they thought fit. Mr D. McGregor said it was not suggested that they should interfere with private businesses. They had to consider, however, >iio\v: far auction sales were going to affect the breeders and the Association. He moved that a sub-committee consisting! of Messrs It. Gray, W. J. Weld), R. Cooper, W. D. Watson and the mover be appointed to wait upon Messrs Turnbull and Co. to ascertain the nature ■of the sale, and whether it was proposed to hold a general ram fair. Mr F. Kummer seconded the resolution. Mr J. Strang stated that they had gone to great trouble to establish their ram fair, and he thought that nothing should be done, or encouraged, that would interfere with the fair. Mr R. Cooper urged that if they were going to interfere with the auctioneers they might ruin men .who were dealing. After further discussion, the reso-» lution of Mr McGregor was put and carried. . It was decided, on the motion of Mr Strang, that Messrs Holmes Warren and BidAvill lie thanked for having brought the question of Mr Perry S sal© before tlio Association. At a meeting of the Ground Committee of the Association, held after the meeting of breeders, it was decided. that the use of the grounds be granted to Mr Perry,for a sale on January 27th, at a fee of Is per head for flock rams and 2s 6d for studs. The deputation of breeders that waited upon Messrs Turnbull and Co. ascertained that the sale in the Waipoud/yards on January 15tli was to be held on behalf of a client of the firm, and that no! outside of rams were being accepted. Furthermore, few, if any of these rams would have been sold through the ram fair, and the sale would not lessen the firm's entry for the fair.