THE FEATHER FANCY

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 169, 10 April 1908, Page 11

THE FEATHER FANCY

[Notes by "Domino."]

POULTRY SHOWS. June :3.—Woodvillo. • June. 11. 12. —Eketahuna. , ' 'June 17,' 18.—ITawcra. . .. . '- June-.18,. 19, 20.—Auckland. •j..r -. -' Juno 23, 24, 25, North.- . • July 2; 3, 4.—Wellington. . July 3, 4.—Newton. . July 7, 8. —Carterton.- . . . !■■:■■■ . .. ." July 8,- 9. —Wanganui.. > '■ July.B, 9, 10, '11.—Waikato. ; July 10, 11.—Wairarapa. . '■ , « July 15, 16. —Paluatua. 1 .July 17, IS. —Hastings. July 21, 22. —Napier. . • July 23, 24, ■ Ju1y.28,, 29.—JIarton. - ' August G,-'7.—Taihapo. -. . -■ . j ' Too;many poultry shows! This has, long been 'tho':cry.' ror' many seasons exhibi- ■ tors-liavo been much puzzled r as to-liow to fit iri ' tlieir/ show arrangements as -to the best * adyan'tago. 1 Thei'duration of the season'is so I '.- limited;'and .the Clumber' of shows- calling for '' >'many,> ; that' a fancier; is- often • called: upon; to make tip. se'cbnd-t'ato teams .to .: satisfy^thd,demand made;.upon, liini for;env 1 tries. Eitiler, this, .or he. has ..to send his. - : -V.choiib'-tcain from show to sliow 'in such' quick / succession that-, by. tho time .tho season onds, V 1 hiSj.b'irds- aro. weary -of travelling, 'and very j state . ; things ."jis conducive,', to the best ■ interests.'of, the fancy; or -profitable to the ; . fancier,;.to.'sav; nothing', of.-tho liarin to the, birds. 1 .. ,-;So far;-tho governing., body in : the ; . North Island: has", failed to grapple ivith the ' ■'.- ■problem',: but recent to hand ■i points :to. the fact tliat tho evil;.is, about to bring -forth its- own :remedyj inasmuch -as' several societies have accepted tho inevitable and withdrawn! from the-list. It is reported that'"both' tho Manawatu Poultry , ;; andHlieiPahiatua/Society, iiave adopted tins '. cbursej:', 'anrlj in. '.consequence,, the . various . allotted tnom- will ba placcd elsewlierei' .1 am not-at all surprised at : this deoision; as it is well known t-here-.is.no occasion: for' a .stscond show-in the -Manawatu dis- - triotj and there, are far,too many in the Bush Districts.. : ; '• • - In', a few months' time the annual meeting of tho North Island: Association will bo held, r'. 'ivlien matters- concerning the faucy -will coinb np for dischssioiu . now be .opportune ■ for, me :tb - suggest-that the delegates asseinbled should' tickle this matter of " congestio'n. .Why; not' nihp out tho centres at r wliich' shows shall ,be held ?. Fewer shows and. ■ better., shows! should be", their, lino of action. In* short, I' slionld .'like'them; to consider this .;prpgranimei ; . Starting vat the far "north, a - show :at- Whangnrei, Auckland, Gisborno, -Hastings; :p'ue- in the jßiisli .'Districts (to' 'om- ''; !: brace Dannevirke,. -Wbodville,' Pahiatua, and Eketahuna),;: one' Wairarapa ;(instead ' of: at '{llaitertoii aiid Carter ton)", thence on. to : .Wellingtons -,oii : the'West'Coa'st-i'lPalmffrston; ' Wanganui (excluding reilding .and Marton), , -.Hawefa:(taking: in .Inglewood and Stratford),. ; i'.and New, Plymouth.. Tliis would give a. total . 'ofJ/elfev.en'^shows;'"instead 1 bf,- -as now,'- 4 about , - twbntv-'one. • Tho governing -body would then' find : tiiat; the-usiial trouble of, dates .'clashing',' tho: demand for;championships, s'thd : of:'chainpionsliips.'.at' too-e'arly--a period, and • ■ pboidy siipported - show's; •' would " disappear. ".-'Domino: ■ commends-the programme to tho consideration, bf - delegates, and invites;, opjn-' '.: i6'ns from tlioso interested as,-to the pros and cons bf tho.same. 44 . ; - ,; : ' .Ideani 'that Mr. : . Geo. Woodwarcl 4 , of . tbnaii'.wjll.;. /Jclas.ses'-at ..the:, forthr oomingVshow iof^'.''.-JSio'-';': Wanganui .; roult-ry, ' r . Pigeon,; and.'Canary, -V. ji :'®' 1 .'ill/ : :. . Repeatedly of: late, ihaye' I; been" asked tho ■' question:Who,is 1 going to judge' tho poultry classes at -the - coming, winter show of ■ the Manawatu A..and P.. Society Perhaps the secretary, will supply "the information. . ; 4 'jln common with'-.otlier,,pursuits; the potil- ■ try world has its booms. To-day,,-in New •'Zealand;'-'theVcraze-is'.,for, -'utility-fowls'''; in :; Black Wyandottes aio all tho rago; . -and," from -recent files, ■I, gather that some sensational, figures have been obtained for birds of this variety, Mr. Richard Capo paying mo less vthan,: £120 for-a single speci--1 men.;-': :."'':' i; :' :4 ; :4 V:>'i ! ' : ' i 'v . • The, South .Island Wyandotte Club will hold'its.second club show in conjunction, with thevDunedin .'.Fanciers'; Club's show in July nest. '; :.:-V -'