ROMNEY MARSH BREED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 168, 19 June 1925, Page 9

ROMNEY MARSH BREED

MEMBERS’ ANNUAL MEETING

STANDARD OF SHEEP IMPROVED

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Romney Marsh Sheep Breeders’ Assi ciaFion was held yesterday afternoon, tie president, Mr A. Matthews, of Feutl.erston, occupying the chair. ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report (inter alia) was as fellows: —The association is to be congratulated oil the improved londition of tl e finances. The income for the year was £56 3s in excess of the previous year, while the expenditure "was £32 9.s 4d less tl an the pieceding twelve months. Tlii6 latter item would have been much larger bit for the handsome donation of £IOO n ado to the Royal Agricultural Society o New Zealand, and a large increaso in tie amount spent on advertising New Zealand Romney sheep in overseas countiies. After this additional expenditure, the debit balance was only £27 8s 5d on tl e yenr’s working. The accumulated find of the association now amounts to £1553 18s 7d. “Your council has received a large n amber of enquiries for particulars of Few Zealand Romney sheep from ail pirts of U.S.A., Canada and the South A merican republics. By almost every oatward mail, printed literature and letters are forwarded by the office in answer to this class of correspondence. “It is pleasing to report that the result o: the shipment of Romney 6tud rams sent last year by this association to the / rgentino was so satisfactory. A cons gninent of 18 rams was selected and S lipped to Buenos Aires, end arrived in t me to be exhibited at the Palermo show. Sixteen rams were entered for competit on, and six awards were allotted to the New Zealand sheep. The average selling price was approximately £B3. It is gratifying to know that one of our sheep realised 3000 Spanish dollars, while the price paid at auction for the English 1 oyal champion was only 1600 Spanish dollars.

“Our commissioner reported to the council as follows upon the type of sheep rjquired:—‘There is no question to doubt t lat our sheep made a great impression, and the particular point about trio show und sale that wo learnod is, while size is very greatly appreciated, the type of ram t lat is favoured in this country is what tie Argentine breeder requires also; and with the exception that they want size, \'e must on no account try to send them slieep conforming- to the English type. Naturally, they can get all they require t f that class from England; it is wool they want from us, and if the right type of sheep is sent to tho country, the market will steadily improve.’ "Volume XXI, of the flock book is now Icing printed, and with Ihe particulars of i number of new registrations will contain the record of 554 registered flocks.” In formally moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman i-tated that it was satisfactory to note that tlie tinunces of the association were in a sound position. Regarding the standard < f the breed, some people had said that Romneys were deteriorating und were not i ow up to their standard of 20 years ago. r ’ho speaker had judged at most shows in New Zealand for a long number of years, ind ho knew well the class of sheep that (no met with in the early days. He was (■leased to say that the breed was progressing satisfactorily, and was of the c pinion that the best stud flocks at the present time were infinitely superior to those of past years. He was certain that New Zealand Romneys - could not be 1 eaten anywhere in the world; most assuredly they were ahead of the English theep. However, he did not think that crossbreds had ,been improved as much as they could have been, and he hoped that I reeders would exercise (iie utmost care in selection, so that they would not have to fear competition from outside. The motion was carried. GENERAL.

In accordance with a recommendation from the council, Mr Matthews was retlected president. Mr W. F. Jacob, of Kiwitea, was elected treasurer and Messrs Maguire and C'orpe auditors. Championship shields were allotted as ioljow:—North Island spring shields, Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Association; North Island autumn shields, Feilding il. and P. Association; South Island tliields, Royal Show; Wheeler Memorial Shield and gold medal, Masterton A. and P. Association. It was decided that the persons who mated animals should be considered the breeders of offspring. In accordance with notice of motion. Ilr A. E. Ilurding moved : “That on and i fter the first day of January, 1926, the lire of the darn must be given in all single entries recorded in tho Flock Book,” .ifter a discussion, the motion was amended to read “1930” instead of “1926” and was carried by 16 votes to 8. Following some brief remarks by the < hairman, a motion was carried asking the Government to take steps to eradicate ticks and lice among sheep. MEETING OF COUNCIL. Prior to the annual meeting the council met to consider various matters. Mr Matthews occupied the chair. The following were elected vice-presi- < ents for the ensuing year: Messrs J. E. Hewitt (North Island) and W. D. Hunt (South Island). Vacancies on the council were filled by the election of the following: Messrs J. Corpe (Feilding), J. W. Harding (Mount Vernon), A. S. Holmes (Wuimahaka), W. Roxburgh (Lumsden) ind E. E. Short (Feilding). Forty-one l ew members were elected. It was decided to hold the next council i looting in Wellington in September next to suit the convenience of the South Island members. Mr R. W. Matthews, of Featherston, was nominated as judge for the Romney < lasses at the Royal Show. It was decided to make a donation of ; 150 towards the prize fund of the Royal Society in connection with the next Royal ! 'how. The council occupied 59 transfers of < ives for registration in the Flock Book, c'. the reports of the inspectors appointed t > examine and tattoo the stud sheep.