THE DUNEDIN FANCIERS’ SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 11

THE DUNEDIN FANCIERS’ SHOW.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —My attention has been drawn to a paragraph appearing in the notes by “ Taihvagger ” on May 4. It is stated that “ the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club lias been in existence for fiftythree years.” I wish to point out that such a statement is incorrect, as the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club has only been in existence for forty-two years. Prior to that the only club in Dunedin that catered for the exhibiting of poultry, pigeons, canaries, and dogs was tho Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Society. This club was formed in 1884, and had it still be functioning its fiftieth-year anniversary would have fallen due this year, 1934. I have in my possession prize certificates that we won with St. Bernard dogs in 1891, and no club known as the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club was in existence then. In the same paragraph _ another statement appears that is entirely misleading and uncalled for. It reads: “ It seems unreasonable to suppose that after all these years of successful shows the right to carry on will be given into other and less experienced hands. The president and old. members of the club refuse to lose sight of the fact that the Otago Kennel Club’s affiliation has been granted conditionally on its being confirmed by all the delegates at the New Zealand Kennel Club’s annual genera! meeting next October.” With regard to tire president and old members mentioned, I also wish to point out that all the dog fanciers that are entitled to be called old members are now members of the recently-formed Otago Kennel Club. Fanciers and breeders of only ten or fifteen years’ standing cannot, by any means, be classed as old members or fanciers. They are only verging out from their infancy. The same can also bo applied to the president of the Dunedin .Fanciers’ Club, as it is only fourteen years since he ncuned his first exhibits in poultry at the show. Personally I have been associated with the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club and practically an active member for the past thirtyseven years, and I have no hesitation

in saying that for the past twenty years, probably from the advent of utility fowls in the show pens, the Dunedin show has deteriorated as an exhibition, more especially in three of the mdst important sections—viz., fancy poultry, fancy pigeons, and dogs. No doubt there is something wrong, as there are numerous breeders of nigh class stock in Dunedin, but their exhibits are not to be found in the pens of the Dunedin Fanciers’ Show, Other South Island shows are given preference.—l am, etc., TST.V.O. May 11. [“ Taihvagger ” replies that apparently over fifty shows have been held, although the first few were not conducted under the name of the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club. The statement regarding old members does not necessarily refer specially to the dog section of the Fanciers’ Club.—Ed. E.S.]