Stolen, Exported Or Given?

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 10

Stolen, Exported Or Given?

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 29. “Straight Furrow,” the journal of Federated Fanners, has accused Australia of stealing the Bowen shearing technique and renaming it “Tallyhi.”

Headlined “The Aussies Have Done It Again.” the front-page article accuses Australia of appropriating the technique "as calmly, consciencelessly and effort-

lessly as if shearing a ewe which has only three months’ wool on it.” and claiming it as an Australian invention. “We have always known the Australian to be a smart, swift operator,” the article

says, “but this latest effort surpasses all that has gone before.” Writing of a photograph of the “Tallyhi” technique in an Australian magazine, it says: “We see Kevin Sarre. the likeable, modest Australian champion, standing in a position to execute the ’long ' blow’—a position exactly the same as that which Godfrey : Bowen uses and teaches. In-

deed, the one which he taught Kevin Sarre.

“Behind the scene in big shearing it is known that the Australians have long been jealous of the world fame earned by Godfrey Bowen and his technique. Jealous and trapped."

The article goes on to say that whatever the reason, it became obvious that though the “Tallyhi" was but an adaptation of the Bowen technique, there was a great determination not to say so. “Publicly. New Zealand Wool .toard officials, including Godfrey Bowen, are equally determined not to say or do anything which could cause disharmony. Privately,

there is little doubt that they are furious."