False Pedigrees.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2078, 31 October 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

False Pedigrees.

Sheriff Cbichton, in the Sheriff Court Cupar-Fife, has given decision of more than pasting importance to breeders. The facts are few and easily fetated. A Perth firm of saleiirnen sued Mr. G. B. Walker Morrison of Falfield for £30 5i., being the price of a quey calf parohued by the defendant at Ardargie Home Farm lale in 1813. Mr. Morrisson refused to aooept and pay for the oalf on the ground that tho dam of the animal sold to him was not Eraclet XI. as described in the catalogue, but another Bracelet. The Sheriff Substitute deoided in favour of the plaintiffs, holding that the defendant had no interest, as he had admitted that the mistake on the catalogue did not Affect the value of the animal. On appeal the Sheriff-Principal has recalled bia Sub■tftnte'i interlocutor, and granted dbsolvitor with expense*. In a lengthy note to his judgment Mr. Crichton rightly holds that the Bale of an article as being of a particular descripton impliea that tho article sold shall be of that doeoripton, which was not the case in this instance. The defendant had therefore sufficient intend to refuse to take the animal. We do not gee how tho sheriff could form any other conclusion, and this case will doubtless prove a warning to auctioneers to look better after their business. We happen to know (says The Scottish Agricultural Oazftte) that with certain anotioneeri the pedigrees of oattle are looked npon with supreme indifferpnoe, and we have before vi catalogues containing the most glaring miltakes and misrepresentations possible, the pedi^iee of the sire being frequently given as that of the animal itself, while in other oaaea tho grandsire's herd-book number ia given as (bat of the sire, which may have been out of » non pedigree cow. Yet these impositions are regularly happening, and/ are passed over with unbluahing effrontery. , The expoaor 19 equally to blame with the auctioneer, but they both Beem to regard the matter &a of no consequence, and it is just at well for them that in most cases the purchaser is not aware of the false pedigree. But all are not thus blind, and in recent years wo have known of more than ono case whore the oxpoaer hay had to p*y " smart. " It is a most pernicious practice, and, whether done through inadvertence or den'gn, ought to be publicly expused, buyerj

in many cases having no ecourity but ilie printed record that tno nnimal is wl at tht owner rcprea^rtH it. Tf.e care at t!.o Birminßhiim Arsiz».a thft other year ope t d the p\f of fvildoers to tLo prwe pr.m» v . /i'nt to which they are I'ubl •, bd 1 the Cupnt tv o will pcrve ap a uicfui r Tiiiid ■? lb".t c elL:.^ under falsope<"i r rep». ii tan^mcinttu f rau3, whether intrntionnl rr not.