GREAT CHANGE FOR BETTER

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21120, 22 March 1934, Page 14

GREAT CHANGE FOR BETTER

♦ OUTLOOK FOR SHEEP BREEDERS establishing an export TRADE The improvement in the farming industry in the last year was referred 1 o as an almost magical change by Mr John Dean;, chairman of the New Zealand Sheep Breeders' Association, at the annual meeting of that body last evening. In moving the adoption of the annual report, Mr Deans said that most farm products had increased in value, and that wool had doubled, irebled, and in some instances quadrupled in price. This change had brought a change for the better in the larmers' relation* with his friend the mortgagee, ili" Deans continued. The mortgagee was now inclined to _ allow a little more latitude. The rise would also make the land a more attractive security for investors, and it was. after all, the best investment.

Mr Deans referred to the necessity lor breeders to cull their flocks carefully. It was his opinion that New 7\'aland. and particularly the South l?land. would become the stud breeding ground for the Southern Hemisphere. The South Island had the climate and it had the grass, and it also had the men who could breed stock oii the highest quality. He predicted :hat this country would very soon work up a big export trade in sheep to other countries south of the line. The annual report stated:— Volume 29 of the tiock book had been published containing flocks of the following breeds:—Lincoln 5, English Leicester 111. Border Leicester 139, Romney Marsh IT, Southdown 22, Shropshire 31, merino 34. Ryeiand 3, Suffolk 3. Corriedale 17, halfbred 22; a total of 404. Of the above flocks, the following was a list of those dispersed or withdrawn: —Lincoln 1, English Leicester 2, Border Leicester 8. Romney Marsh 1, Southdown 1. Shropshire 4. merino 1. Kveland 1, Corriedale 3: a total of 22. New flocks had been admitted during the year (these included also in the above total > as follows:—English Leicester 7. Border Leicester 2, halfbred 1; a total of 10. Seventeen silver shields were offered for the best four-tooth ram and twotooth ewe in the various breeds, to be the property of the breeaer whose tiocks were registered in the New Zealand Flock Book. The following were the winners:—

CHRISTCHURCH SHOW Merino ram Mine and strong combing): Ren wick Estate. Merino ewe 1 fine and strong combing': Sir Charles Clifford. English Leicester ram: Jas. Reid. English Leicester ewe: R. J. Low. Border Leicester ram: D. Grant. Border Leicester ewe: D. Grant. Shropshire ram: Chas. Parry. DUNEDIN SHOW Border Leicester ram: T. S. Little. Border Leicester ewe: T. S. Little. INVERCARGILL SHOW Border Leicester ram: W. Kennedy. Border Leicester ewe: W. Kennedy. AUCKLAND SHOW English Leicester ram or ewe: E. M. Wilson 'English Leicester ewe. BLENHEIM SHOW Meri.no ram: C. O. T. Rutherford. English Leicester ram: H. Bishell. The balance-sheet showed a loss ol £4O 7s 2d. The reserve against overdue fees had been fully maintained, all writings-off being charged against the year's revenue. The fall in revenue was due to many flock owners giving up their flock owing to the discouraging prices for stud sheep in the last two seasons. Fortunately there is every indication of an improvement in this direction, the overseas demand in recent months being distinctly encouraging. The excess of assets over liabilities was £664 19s 3d. The meeting confirmed the arrangement made with the Southdown Sheep Society to take over flocks registered in the New Zealand Sheep Breeders' Flock Book and make any consequential alterations to the rules of the society necessitated thereby. The following officers were elected: —Chairman, Mr John Deans: vicechairman. Mr Jas. Reid: auditor. Mr A. A. McKellar.

THE CORRIEDALE ANNUAL REPORT OF SOCIETY That there has been a keen demand for stud and flock Corriedale rams from the North Island during 1933 is mentioned in the annual report of the Corriedale Sheep Society, which, with the balance-sheet, will be presented to members at the Chamber of Commerce rooms to-night. Members of the society shipped overseas 135 stud rams and 77 stud ewes. Since the last annual meeting prices for stock have materially improved and the wool sales, particularly in regard to Corriedale, have been commanding much higher prices. Advertising of New Zealand Corriedales in various papers has led to many enquiries for descriptive pamphlets. The balance-sheet discloses a surplus of assets over liabilities of £9-4 19s od. £7OO is invested in New Zealand Government securities, whilst cash in the bank totals £137 14s Id. The expenditure for the period under review has exceeded the income by £9 14s lid, and the adverse position has been occasioned by expenditure in advertising the purchase of special challenge cups for the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and inspection fees for the ram fair. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association acceded to the request of the society to appoint inspectors, nominated by the society, to inspect and pass all rams offered for sale at the ram fair. This innovation was watched with much interest and favourably commented upon by members of the society, and other interested sheep breeders. The James Little Memorial Cup for the exhibitor gaining most points for sheep of his own breeding at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association show was awarded to the Bushey Park Estate for 1933-34. Two new challenge cups were given by the society for the exhibitor gaining most points in the ram classes and ewe classes at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual show. These cups will be competed for yearly for 10 years ancl will then become the property of the exhibitor who has his name on the cups most during that period. The Bushey Park Estate won these cups also.