ROMNEY SHEEP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 167, 14 June 1940, Page 8

ROMNEY SHEEP

BREEDERS’ ANNUAL MEETING. There was a fair attendance at the annual meeting or the Romney Marsh Breeders’ Association, held at the Winter Show yesterday. The president, Mr E. R. Black (Gisborne), was in the chair. The report of the president, which was adopted, included the following: “The finances show a very satisfactory position, the net income for the year being £244. This figure is arrived at after charging £IOO as a special donation made in connection with a publication to be issued relative to stud stock in the Southern Hemisphere. The revenue is practically the same as for the previous year while the general expenditure is higher.in some respects. The accumulated fund now stands .at £3197. The council made the usual grant of £SO to the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand; a further sum of £IOO to Massey College for research, and an amount of £IOO to a special; publication. In October last year new regulations governing the export of sheep to all countries were brought into force by the Government. The 'association is now responsible for the quality' of the exports of all Romney sheep and members mdst see that sheep are of export quality, or they will not he passed by our inspectors. We have to. record the loss of one of our members; through the death of Sir William Hunt. Sir William joined the association in 1912 and was elected to .the office of South Island vice-president in 1917. He held this position until the year 1927.” The election of officers resulted: President, Mr E. R. Black; treasurer, Mr 11. W. Matthews; auditors, Messrs K. S. Glendinning and Joseph Corpe; vacancies on the council, Messrs J. Corpe (Feilding), J. W. Harding (Waipukurau), W. J. A. McGregor (Invercargill), J. A. McLeod (Martinborough) and E. E. Short (Feilding). Speaking prior to vacating the chair, Mr Black said that the society now had control of all unregistered sheep exported, and care had to be .taken that tlie standard was set at a high level.

The following allocation of tronhies for the coming year was made: North Island Spring Shield, Royal Show (Hastings); North Island Autumn Shield, Feilding Show :• South Island Shield, Canterbury Show, Wheeler Memorial Shield. Rovnl Show.

Mr L. T. Daniels (Masterton) urged that action be taken to tighten up the standard of sheep offered at sales of Romneys not in the stud , book, under the same conditions as those in the stud hook. The president explained that the council proposed to bring the matter forward at the annual meeting of sheep-breeders. Subsequently the meeting was addressed bv Dr. P. J. McMahon and Mr W. M. Webster on sire surveys and flock improvement.