THE N. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION'S SHOW. (To the Editor of the North Otago Times.)

North Otago Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 792, 20 December 1872, Page 4

THE N. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION'S SHOW. ( To the Editor of the North Otago Times.)

Sir,— Several letters have appeared in. your paper 'relative to the late Oamaru Show, which proves that the public take an interest in its proceedings'.' :> So "far 'from 'deprecating ' discussion on any matter connected with it, I think that the most complete publicity should 1 be given to every tiling bearing upon its management. In the best regulated public institutions practices frequently *creep in, i which ' are ' wrong' in v ' themselves, and should not be allowed. I, believe that the members of the Northern Agricultural and' Pastoral Association desire that all their proceedings shall— be 1 so ti'ansparent and just as to merit the entire confidence of the community. . , 'The'questi6n at' issue may be resolved into a distinct proposition, thus :— *-" Is' it light or 'dxpe'die'nt that owners of stock or their 1 overseers should be permitted to act as judges in classes in which they themselves are exhibitoi's?" In countries farther advanced than New Zealand, where very high prices are^given for superior stocky the v position of an -animal on the prize list frequently determines its value when hundreds ,or v perhaps thousands of pounds depend 1 upon the verdict of the judges, it becomes app'arerit how rie'ee's'sary it is that they"sli6tild' not only be competent for the duties- of -their office, but tliat they shdlild ibte- absolutely disinterested. Were it known that any of the judges at the great shows in Britain were •even remotely interested in any of the •exhibits - upon which they were called upon to decide, public confidence would at once be shaken in the justice of their awards. • ' ' j I never yet met a prize breeder who was not prejudiced in favor of his own stock — and' overseers and servants take as great or even a greater interest in Shows than their employers. The eye gets educated to regard the best specimens coining daily before it as the standard of < excellence, and -t-ofcher animals aie prized or slighted just in so far as they approximate to that standard. Foi example, one breeder of short-horns in 'Victoria utterly scouts the idea of his neighbor in the same line ever producing a good animal ; and ' yet the public give from 200 to 370 ' guineas for his yearling bulls, by auction. In draught horses as much difference of opinion'exists— the breeders of Clydesdales looks upon the Suffolk punch as wanting in power, and the Lincoln as mere lumber from want -of activity. In long-woolled slieep even still greater differences 'e'xis^ and judges frequently cdmplain 1 ' when ' they are : oalled - upon' to'' decide - upon all the different varieties — the .points of excellence being different in each breed. For example,' the Border Leicester, as bred by Lord Pol worth or Miss Stark, , is as 1 different from the improved English Leicester breed as it is from ►several of the Downs and Romney Marsh, and should not be shown in the same class. The original Lincoln is distinct from either of these, but tins • breed has beferi' crossed' so frequently both ways with the improved Leicester that few of the 'original type can nojw be found even in England. The Cheviot, which excels all the others for our 'high hills, and for crossing with the merino for mutton sheep, is ' a . distinct breed from all ,the, foregoing* In selecting judges, ..therefore, sjll that can be done, in my , opinion, is to , secure men of the most' Varied experience; and above all things, 'that 'they' 'should < have' no 'connection wii;h any of' the ' exhibits. 1 ! For 'the future Iwould 'strongly recommend the N. ,A> ■and P. Association to pay the expenses ! of the judges for the two most important , classes of stock for this district, viz.— Draught horses and long-woolled sheep. Some first-class judges can be obtained ' from 'South land, ''but it is unreasonable to < expect them- to hot only' give their I time but' their 1 money in 1 serving {a district with which ■ they have no connection. I believe Dunedin has adopted that course, and secured the services of excellent judges. | --The- remarks of your correspondent*. " Merino "< are in the main correct, except in the inference as regards tile Cnp. They might have been' a little" more courteus : but the writer 1 was evi-< dentty smarting under a fancied wrong, and 1 under such' circumstances people 1 ' do not "wait 'to study nice phraseology »j ' i Mr 'Anderson and ' Mi* Turnbull are well known in Oamaru," and much respected! They' did ( n6t 'require a* ; vulgar certificate of character • from , any onej not pel haps so 'well 'known as' 1 '-themselves r in f - the" district!' A single misunderstanding — jthe^only one that ever took place — is not likely to deter 1 tiny "man "of 1 standing' aiid 1 *■ experience , ,fr,om [undertaking the, , duties, of, $j udge\ * i The rapid improvement in the quality ' 'of 'our BtbSkJ- especially '''in the^tfwb 3 classes in which we excel all the, other -parts of the~ Cblony^viz., dra\aght [ h.bfsea and long-woolled sheep — already

Theeffusion signed "William Young" indicates that the ("writer ,has notjyet reached the years of discretion, either in the conduct of shows orjas.a newspaper correspondent; lie is, therefore, beneath the criticism which he seems to be afraid to provoke. f look upon the Association as having already done a vast deal of godd in promoting a taste for superior stock, and improving our farm implements. It will surprise me very much should any falling off take plaice, especially as the majority of out, members are noted for their steady and indomitable periseverancow' It is now time to bury the hatchet ) arid believing that all our members will work with heart and hand for the general good of the .^Association, I remain, &c, A' Member. [This correspondence has, think> been sufficiently protracted) and must end here.— Ed. N. O.T.I ! ' > i • '■ > J „