ROMNEY MARSH BREEDERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 432, 24 June 1922, Page 3

ROMNEY MARSH BREEDERS.

ANNUAL MKF.TINL OK MIDI HERS. The 17th annual meeting of iho New Zealand Romney Marsh Sheep Breeders’ Association was held on Thursday afternoon, life president, Mr Allred Matthews, occupy-, ing the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The annual report stated Unit the past year was one of acute depression, owing to the greatly decreased places obtained for primary products. The situation was* reflected in the balance-sheet, since the income for the year was only £6B 7s 8d in excess of (.ho expenditure. The membership of the association was 607 at the commenecnienl of last year. During the past 12 months, 41 members had resigned from the association and 25 new breeders into boon elected as members, making a decrease of 16 for tint year. Ihe 18lh volume of the Flock Book now being printed with tin l breeding returns for 1921, would contain particulars of 490 registered flocks. During the year under review the council published and circulated a hook on New Zealand Romney sheep. A large number was printed and sent to all breeders throughout Australia and New Zealand, and hi addition copies were forwarded to North and South American countries and different parts of the British Umpire. The balance-sheet showed a credit cash balance of £1319 10s, TDK VFAR REVIEWED.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said that, although the year had not been a successful one financially, the association was still in a very. satisfactory financial position. From small (lock owners several resignations bad been received. Despite low prices fur wool and meat, the Romney .\laVsh breeders could not make complaint of the prices obtained lor well-bred Hocks. The chief slump in prices bad been in stud lambs. In iiifinv instances it was uppaicnl dial breeders had used last year’s rams (or another season. He urged members to maintain the quality ot the wool which they bad produced in the past. Ranis with a liui'lv weighty fleece, combined with si long wool, had brought high prices. A lighter fleece was the consequence ot fineness. An excess ot fineness and lightness would, however, he a mistaken policy. Personally, he had found that heavier wools gave a heiler return even :n lower prices than liner types. Fxtra weight had more than compensated lor the drop m price. It had been truly said that ere long the Romney woo! would command greater attculioii than formerly. Merino wool supplies held liy B.A.W.R.A. were quickly becoming exhausted and the stronger wools would prohablv last till the 1924 sales only. Once these strong wools had disappeared the Romney breeders would bud that theic would be a greater demand for their medium weight fleeces than ever belote., There were 10 per cent, fewer sheep in existence to-day than there were in 1913, and prices would surely rise when the piesCill excessive stocks were exhausted. In the early days of the breed in New Zealand, a (loeco of oighf* or nine pounds was considered a good one, but wool of such fineness was not profitable, and consequently by carefulness in selection they had endeavoured to produce a wool of medium strength, that was fast commanding the premier position on the markets. No other breed was so well adapted to all kinds ot climatic conditions as the Romney. Ihe speaker was informed by the secretary that 48 per cent, of tho whole of the registered sheep in New Zealand were Romneys. Scab was a trouble that, in bis experience, was easily eradicated it proper measures were promptly applied. They hoped m the very near future to have a big export trade for their Hocks, and it behoved breeders to look io quality rather than quantity, d their produce was to command attention overseas. . , Mr Maiihews then outlined the early propress of the breed in the South Maud, and it was decided to have the facts as staled published in an historical review ol the breed in the Dominion. (Vnilinnin!;-, die speaker said that he understood ‘that freight charges had been reduced io £6 to South America. He had, however, been informed that the cost of taking the animals inland from -Monte Video in one instance at least was as high as £lO. ITgeiil ai million should be paid to ibis' matter by die council during the year. It was also desirable io give die breed the fullest possible publicity in other parts of die world. The council had decided to recommend the issue of two more shields to be known as the spring and autumn shields for compel it ion among exhibit ors. To cull with no unsparing band should he the object of the breeders of New Zealand ever looking to the goal of quality and value. (Applause.) The iv pm* I and balance-sheet wou aclopi **il. . , i (Hliccrs for ihe (Mistime year wore* elected as follows: Rresideiil. Mr A. Matthews (rejected); secretary, Mr K J. Wacknll (re--fleeted); lion, treasurer. Mr W . I’ • Jacob; auditors. Messrs A. 11. Maguire and . . Corpe (re-elected); members ot council, Messrs J. Corpe, J. \V. Harding. A. b. Holmes, W. Roxburg and K, K. Short. GKNKRAL. On ibe recommendation of the council, it was decided to give Iwo additional shields lor competition in the North Island. Ihe spring show shield was allocated to tho Wairarapa -\. and I’. Association and the autumn show shield to the Feilding Association. The South Island shield was alloe;ned (o the Olago Association and die Wheeler Memorial Shield and medal to the Hawke's Bay A. and R, Society. \ special meeting was hold at which Mi \ IO Harding moved in accordance with notice previously given, io add to Rule 43: >< \n owes submitted for inspection shall be examined and tattooed by the inspector while in the possession of the vendor, and transfers will not he recorded if the inspector reports dint this rule has nut been observed.”—The rule was adopted in its amended ionil. M f wTir-nti-rrirTrrw