EDUCATIVE JUDGING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 3

EDUCATIVE JUDGING

A SPLENDID EXAMPLE. Undoubtedly the great weakness in the exhibitions of live stock at the A. and P. show's of this country is the entire S absence of even an attempt to - make ithe work of judging of tin educative character. It is merely the awarding of prize money to certain animals which in the opinion of the judge should receive distinction; but why one animal is better than another the inquiring visitor is left to discover for himself. It is needless to enter into particulars of 1 the many evil effects in the subsequent management of stock which this Stone Age system of judging is responsible for. The worst feature of it is that those responsible for the conduct of our shows realise the. position and yet won't move in the direction of making their shows the means they should be in advancing the stock interests of their respective districts, A striking instance of a breaking away from the present crude method occurred at the late Koyal show of Melbourne. In one of the Ayrshire classes an unsuccessful exhibitor challenged the decision of the judges. Mr John Mahon, principal of Gatton College, one of the judges, who- holds strong opinions on the necessity of judges giving reasons for their decisions, with the consent of his colleagues accepted-the challenge, and at the ringside explained the reasons that had influenced the judges. The educational value of this practice was at once apparent. A largo crowd gathered round the* demonstrator, and the explanation was followed with interest. The exhibitor who challenged the decision was satisfied, and *numb°rs of those who listened to Mr Mahon expressed approval of his action. Deferring to this subject subsequently, Mr Mahon said that the show-yard could be made much more educational than it is, if one day were set apart for judges in all the sections to assign reasons for their decisions.