THE KENNEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 291, 7 December 1900, Page 3

THE KENNEL.

(By Canis.)

The following clipping is from the Canterbury "Times," and as there are two local canine clubs affiliated with the N.Z.K.C., the remarks will no doubt be interesting reading matter for their oflicers and members in general:—

THE NEW ZEALAND KENNEL CLUB.

("N.Z. Sportsman.")

It may be thought unnecessary to .again draw attention to the crisis in the affairs of the New Zealand Kennel Club, but, incredible though it may seem to those who lake a live interest in kennel government in New Zealand, fhere are some leading clubs which have not hitherto taken the slightest action towards rectifying the present deplorable position. A brief retrospect will show how matters have been allowed to drift. When the head-quarters of the Kennel Club were removed to Wellington a code of rules was adapted which was well adapted to New Zealand conditions, and would have been made still more so had the Wellington proxy-holdor.s not opposed and defeated the new jimendments proposed by those who possessed experience of canine matters and law. The rules were botched at almost every meeting thereafter, till they were contradictory and unworkable from beginning to end, and at last a committee was set up to draft a new code. This committee appears to have been controlled by' the recently-appointed secretary, a gentleman whose knowledge of the subject was. at bost, rudimentary, and his experience of the slightest. Whose was the unseen hand that pulled the strings, need not be inquired. The result was that a code based on that of the English Kennel Club—an excellent basis, no doubt— and with a superstructure fairly well suited to colonial conditions, was adopted about three months ago. One of the newrules empowered the annual meeting to elect an executive committee to arrange the affairs of the club. Of the personnel of this committee it need only be said that the majority are moving spirits of a small Wellington coterie, which has always been considered inimical to the interests of the fancy. Having secured the control of the executive, the next step ■was to propose a series of amendments and additions to the rules, none of them being in the slightest degree called for, and to consider these a special meeting is summoned for next week, when they will no doubt be carried, as a full attendance cannot be present, and the coterie will be able to do as it chooses, and will stop at nothing. It has already usurped the functions of the club in general meeting, by appointing as the official calendar a paper in which several of the coterie are interested, but whose very existence is unknown to nine-tenths of the fanciers of the colony. The weekly paper which was previously the official organ certainly did nothing for the fancy, but was, on the other hand, antagonistic, From the day of its appointment it did not publish a single official announcement, or give any information on kennel matters. Still all things should be done "decently and in order," and the executive's action was neither. The late organ was itself appointed in a very irregular manner, without notice appearing in the list of business to be transacted at the meeting in question. The executive has already shown its hand, which will not be extended to advance the fancy, and several of those fanciers and gentlemen who have done good and disinterested work have already signified their intention of ceasing all connection with the Kennel Club. Yet many of the affiliated clubs look on apathetically, and allow matters to drift. Their delegates, if they have any, do not represent their opinions and desires, and they should at once either be instructed peremptorily how to act or representatives who are conversant with kennel matters appointed in their places. Otherwise the fancy in New Zealand is doomed. '

The Auckland Collie Club in particular has at present very just cause to feel aggrieved at the N.55.K.C. An important letter was sent to the latter oil November 10, which Has been followed by another one Jand two urgent telegrams; but as yet no reply of any kind has been received, and flin "consequence is that the schedule of the former club's show to be held during the Christmas and New Year holidays has been kepi back for more than a week, although a copy of the "N.Z. Field," which reached Auckland on Wednesday last, publishes a report of a meeting of the executive of the N.Z.K.C. at which the lettor first mentioned was read aaid dealt with. There is a screw loose somewhere, and if savours very much of "treated with contempt."

Mr W. B. Hall, well known in terrier circle:;, has taken a step in the right direction. Ho is in treaty with a prominent Sydney breeder for some new blood in fox terriers, amd if he is successful in obtaining what he !<? after he will benefit the fancy in Auckland very decidedly. I have twice previously mentioned tiie fact that the "Dalmatian" was likely to bo introduced into Auckland. Matters have now come to a head, and Messrs A. 11. Cotter and Mefcer have sent a cheque for a good figure to Sydney for a pair of this breed, a young dog and a bitch in pup. It speaks well for their likely success when I say that one puppy has already been booked' at five guineas. The bitch 'has won a laree number of prizes, but the show-bench record of the dog is not yet to hand.

The Ladies' Kennel Association is growing by leaps and bounds. At Its late show at the Alexandra Palace it had nearly 2000 classes; over COOO entries and 704 specials wore allotted. When it is taken into consideration that 300 entries is a big show in New Zealand, some idea of the above figures will bo gained. Mrs Stennard RoMusou is undoubtedly a go-ahead secretary.