I RIMMING OF SHOW SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1124, 11 May 1911, Page 8

I RIMMING OF SHOW SHEEP.

ENGLISH BREEDERS' ACTION,' Because of the great interest at present bestowed on the trimming of sheep, and especially as the subject is to be r discussed in Masterton on Saturday, news of the action taken by a section of the English sheenbreeders is of considerable interest. It "was stated in The Dominion Borne time ago that consideration of the matter was to be taken nt the-annual meotinj; of tho Kent or Roniney Marsh Sheepbreeders' Association. The meeting was held just before the last mail left England. The following particulars are from tho "Live Stock Journal": — At the meeting, Mr. D. Swaffer moved: "That.some provision ho made to ensure that for the future prizes, shall only be awarded to such Kent sheep as are shown with the wool untrinimed, except the tail and breech, at all shows to which this association subscribes, and including tho association's ram show." Mr. Swaffer, in. moving this resolution, Stated he was actuated with one desireto do tho best ho could to promote the true- interests of the breed, and he thought .it would bo generally agreed that tho system of cutting into sheep, and excessive, trimming that'hud crent into practice in respect to the exhibition of itcmriey Marsh" sheoii was highly detrimental to the breed, fov, in a manner, it altered the characteristics of the breed.

Mr. H. T. Bensted seconded, and urged thut what the .association wanted was that the Kent or Romney Marsh. sheep should be exhibited so that it should be shown as , near as possiblo in its natural Condition.

Mr. Hulkes moved a resolution in the following terms: "That, in view of ths titter 'failure of restrictions as to the date of shearing show, sheep, iind their consequent abandonment, this meeting is unwilling to take action in the question of trimming- (beyond recording tiieir opinion that excessive trimming of Kent 'sßeop does not improve their appearance), but..is willing to" leave that,"matter in the. hands of exhibitors and judges, with a view to Kent sheep being exhibited to tha 'best advantage in the eyes of Home land foreign buyers." Mr. A. Amos, who seconded the amendment, pointed out that he did not think it possible for anyone to accept tho office Df judge, to carry out instructions such ns, apparently, would have to be given to them if the resolution were carried. •He asked who was to decide as to whether the sheep had been trimmed or not, ana 'he ,nsked whether it was possible for this to be decided definitely ?

I ■ Considerable and full discussion took iplace, and ultimately the amendment was lost. ■

Mr. E. C. Lister-Kay thereupon move.) an amendment to tho motion—i.e., "That -tho whole matter should be referred to ■a small committee: for consideration and -leport." He urged that tho resolution as it stood did not disclose what provisions were to be- taken to carry into ■effect its. object, and referred to the difficulties that had to be faced. Mr. v. Keanie seconded, stating that ■no thought such conditions would hamper exhibitors, and act detrimentally to the best. interests of tho breed. This amendment, on being- put, was defeated, and the original resolution, as moved by Mr. Swatter, with the deletion of tho words ' and breech," carried by a majority.

_ A further resolution upon the same snbject, approached from another standpoint, was moved by Mr. A. J. Hickman, to the ottect "That tliis meeting jwishes to impress upon all judges the necessity ot withholding awards from sheep which in their opinion are bein? exhibited ■ with fleeces trimmed hard." Mr. A. J. Hickman, in moving .this resolution, stated that • his object was to mako some provision whereby the desires of the members of this association ciuv be 'carried out. and lie thought that their judges would, if this resolution were carried, bo able, to discriminate between those sheep that we're trimmed hard and those that were sent forward in proper condition. Sir. J. B. Blake seconded the motion, j' r cl !' , on , " eln S P llt to the meeting, was defeated by a narrow majority. At a. meeting o f the council, he'd subsequently, the resolution was considered and-it was decided that tiic gentlemen whose names; were on the official indues' list should bo asked to meet and consider what provision, if any, can be made to carry out the. resolution. This "}. th , e f f, m ° f ij. formal resolution, was put to tho meeting, and carried I>\- a large majority. ' ' • ' irl' . lra r a t £>; decided, on-the motion : of' '(■ J-.;Hickman,,that.a circular letbr J? o, '! ' be .«nt to each flockowner It J\" of tKd cnllllc " that afi 5i PS W bo sho,vn naturally, <o that ei the breed.they represent.