ROMNEY BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14407, 15 July 1912, Page 5

ROMNEY BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual mooting of the New Zen- j I land Romney Marsh Breeders' AssociaI tion was held in Palmerstou North dur- | ing Show week. Mr A. Matthews, [ I Featherston. presiding over an _ attend- j j aneo of about thirty. J A special general meeting was held j ] earlier at which Rules 18 to IS (in- | I elusive) were altered, the rules apply-J ! ir.g to the election of officers. On the } i motion of tho Chairman, seconded by j IMr E. Short, the amended rules were | j adopted. . ! The balance-sheet showed that the re- i i ceipts for tho year, including a balance 1 iat the bank of £536 17s 9d, totalled j £9_G Gs 10d, and tho expenditure £oiX> j 10s Id, leaving a credit balance oi | £359 IGs 9d. The assets totalled £736, j and liabilities £1. j The Chairman, in uioring tlio adop- i tioa of the balance-sheet, stated that | tho Association was making satisfac- ; tory progress, tho membership having ■ increased from 236 in the last book to nearly 300 for the book now being issued. With regard to tho Wheeler . Memorial pavilion, tenders had been ! j invited for its erection, and it was j ( hoped they would have a very hand- j I somo building .to commemorate the late j jMr -There was also the I memorial shield on which the speaker ' | hoped to see tbo names of many of I the Romney breeders present. He j apologised for tho absence of any anI nual report, but stated that it had not j been customary to havo one in the past. I Ho would see, however, that one was I supplied next year. j The motion was seconded by Mr I?. Gray (Masterton), and adopted. j ELECTION OF OFFICERS.' The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr A. Matthews; treasurer, Mr ."YV. F. Jacobs; auditors, Messrs A. H. Maguire and J. Knight; Council, Messrs J. Allen, J. Corpe, R. Gray, J, 11. McKenzie, P. Mungavin, D. Murray, and E. Short. GENERAL. Mr Birch stated that one of tho rules of the Association provided that no sheep, however pure, could bo entered in tho flock book unless that had been done at a dato long past. Ho was in the unfortunate position of having purchased 30 sheep in tho South Island which wero unquestionably of _iuro breed, but owing to„ the rule'in. question ho had bec'n unable to hare them entered in tho flock book, He moved as a recommendation that tho Council be asked to tako steps to have rule 40 so amended as to admit tho entry of Romney flocks other than those already entered, provided they are already entered in other registered arid recognised flock books, and subjet to inspection and recommendation of this Association. Tho Chairman stated that tho matter had boon before tho Council previously, but during tho time the flock book was open to South Island breeders nono ot thorn made an effort to tako advantage of it, and consequently the book had been closed. The rules in tlio South Island were not so stringent as those in tho North, and immediately tho flock book was opened to ono flock, which was, without doubt, worthy, others would apply for tho entry of flocks which were not worthy. Ho would like to sco some thorough understanding brought about between the South Island Flock Book Council and tho North Island Romney Marsh Breeders' Association. Mr Mungavin opposed tho putting of tho motion to tho general meeting, on the ground that th© matter was ono for the Council. Mr W. Perry was of tho opinion that it would be well to get an expression of opinion from tho meeting on the question. Personally ho thought they might open.the flock book again to tho South Island, for; say about twelve Mr J. G. Wilson ' supported Mr Birch's recommendation, and held that until tho flocks wero branded by some qualified official they ought never to close the flock book, as.it was an easy matter for anyone desirous of doing so to swindle tho Association. The Romney Marsh flock book was practically tho only flock book in tho world which was closed to breeders. .The public would never submit to a close corporation, and the question ought to be considered again. Tho Association ought not to open the book only to a limited number .of sheep, as it then became judges of those who were loft out. It was ono of the misfortunes of New Zealand that thoy had two islands, and that the two islands should be opposed to each other. Mr Hewitt held that the Romney Marsh Breeders' Association was not a North Island Association alone; it was for the whole of New Zealand, and the South Island people had refused to como in while tho opportunity offered. He thought tho flock book should not bo again opened. Mr Buchanan stated at Home only stock that bad been bred at Home -wero admitted to the flock books, and outside breeds were not accepted. Mr Fulton (South Island) stated ho would be very pleased to assist in bringing the two bodies together if possible. Mr Wingate said he was astonished to find things as they were. Ho thought this Association was for the whole of New Zealand, whereas he found now it was quite a parochial affair. He took it that every caro would be taken in admitting fresh flocks, and held that stops bo taken to admit the South Island sheep subject to proper inspec- j tio'n.

The Chairman stated that apparently there -was some misunderstanding about the matter. All the breeders in the South Island had been given an opportunity of coming in. and most of the prominent breeders had.done so. Apparently tlio rules in the South Island wero not so stringent as those up here, and this led to the trouble. In throwing a book open in other places the greatest car© was taken to have flocks subjected to the most careful inspection, but even this did not always prevent inferior sheep from fretting in. The recommendation on being put to the meeting was lost by ten votes to eight. Notice of motion was given, by Mr Harding to the effect that in future ttventy members constitute a quorum. It was resolved that two shields be allotted to Feilding nnd two to Southland, tho "Wheeler Memorial shield to be allotted to Palmerston North. It was stated that gold medals would be awarded to tho various Associations as soon as dies could be prepared in England, the object being to award gold medals of n superior type in place of shields. Mr Hewitt moved that Feilding be the site of the next annual stud ram fair under tho rules of the Association, and that flock classes be struck out. The motion was seconded by Mr Harding and carried. "