MORE FROM MR, COBB.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 10

MORE FROM MR, COBB.

[To the Editor.! Sir,—ln reading Mr. Mungavin's opinion of "sheep-faking" in The Dom'j'nion, I ; cannot help - mentioning that the trouble existed many years prior to. that in which "he drew the judges' attention to a case in point, on the show grounds." I. rccall a show in Hastings in 1883 or 18S1 at which tho late Mr. Wheeler and myself exhibited prior to tho Hawke's Bay railway, and before wc established a show at Palmerston. Well, Sir, we carted our sheep right through to the nearest terminus of the Napier line, somewhere aboiit Waipukurau, I think, or further east, and after 'trucking reached Hastings on the evening prior to the show. Mr. Dorsett, sent'., of the Wairarapa, was the appointed judge, and proved himself- to be one, for, after awarding'mo "all the firsts," he was asked whether he noticed my sheep :had been unfairly shorn or "faked"? Hearing this from a well-known grazier, liy asked me if "I objected to him rejudging, the Romneys," and, obtaining my consent, he went ahead, thoroughly examining the staple from-stem to tip, with the result that he was quite satisfied to leave tho prize tickets as they were. This was my first experience in New Zealand of: the rivalry ' among breeders, which,. I regret to say, was , too apparent during .my show career" for years afterwards; 1 had in my show team, at tho time I speak of, the "Scriptural trio" of New Zealand Rotuncy Marsh history, "Shadrach," "Meshach," and "Abednogo," my first selected rams in Romney Marfeh; and these . sheep, especially Shadrach, carrying: such heavj; fleeces,- no doubt gave rise to the suspicion indicated. . Again, when, prior to this, tho same sheep (Shadrach) was awarded the first ticket at, I think, the last show held under the'auspices of the former Wan|anui Association, the press iuo for the manner-in whicli/rny sheep wero "got up," and stated that "they were an object-lesson to tho other exhibitors," which also caused rivalry. So you seo, tho judge whose attention was called by Mr. Muilgavin "five years ago" to what he thought was a case Of "tampering" by some other breeder might not have considered so, or was satisfied that it did not afreet his decision, and that is tho kind of judge wc want, to quell tho disturbance among breeders over this vexed question.

■ Mr. Wm. Wilson, of Whenuakura, t .who' handed over liis stud Lincoln slicep to liis son-in-law, Mr. Weybourne, some 'few years ago, said to me, while showing at one of the few shows Wellington held iat the Lower Hutt, in reply to ray report ji/F some annoying! behaviour of a rival ! breeder, "You Eomney men always seem fto bo at, loggerheads, ready to run down | eacli other's stock. Why ..don't, you fol- ; low our example, and help, each other to jkeep up the status of the breed?" So, , you see,. "as it was in the beginning is ; now and ever likely to be" till the sheep ; aro judged "on points." And you notice •few, if any, Lincoln breeders have taken :part in the question of "faking," at any : irate, through the press. ■ ' ( Mr. Mungavin's belief in showing sheep "as they are" should suit him down to the ground, as liis show sheep are always in ; ;clear, well-sheltered paddocks, and tho iPorirua Wool carries a lustre, owing to )tho proximity of the sea coast, which no aulaud country can prodnce, excepting, ;i«rliaps,' the best limestone. ■ But what iabout tho unfortunate breeder of first- ' itliis.-, oheep nwlioso environment is bush, ,'with ail' abnormal rainfall? Would he :ftand a show with an A. ant] P. selected ;judgo if we prohibit him from taking the thistles, docks, etc., from tho fleece, and, ,-perchance, trimming off the pink tips ! ;caused by excessive, wet weather, washing 'the charcoal from, and even "oiling," tho . 'locks to'imitate a "Porirua-grown necce"? /Why, he wouldn't have the ghost of a chance for the desired red or orange rib,'bon if "Mr. Mimgavin's ."ns-they-are" bheep were there alongside, and I feel satisfied' every breeder will admit this. Mr. MunKivih would "especially admit ■the necessity of artificially feeding sheep coming from poorer' country, competing with stock from rich, well-grassed lands"! he was called upon to pick his .übow lambs from poor country, would he rhave been justified in "dagging" them and ;opening up the wool, or would he havo : shown' them "as they are"? I think you will now see that it is irnpractieablo to lay down a, hard and fast. ..rule, even in the matter of artificially ; feeding and clothing, without r injuring : someone, and possibly the majority, of ex- • hibitors.;-and in these days of rival comi petition among our increasing number of \ associations, I venture to say no ope committee would face the result of such drastic measures, for fear of being ostracisel by the breeders I disagree, again, with Mr. Mungavin, inasmuch' as I consider that if the small farmer imitated the faro and forethought of a stud breeder ,-iver his flock he would materially benc,st by such action..—l am, etc., ' ROBT. COBB. Mnn-awatu.