CLYDESDALE HORSES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 2

CLYDESDALE HORSES

(To the Editor “X.Z. Times.")

Sir,—ln your issue of the sth. inst. I see a characteristic etfusion from Air Short. It i« unfortunate Air Short is not more careful. There was not d vote taken at the Hastings meeting but what was from a local breeder. Air Short, his groom, and a friend attended, but tho only discussion they attempted was to cast asx>orsious upon, honourable men. Air Short regarding what had been done with the registration fees by the Canterbury oommiUee, and his groom about the honesty of horse dealers, as already stated. Of tho meeting at Palmerston Air Short asks how many horses it represented. I can only reply that ail Hawke's Bay breeders were thero iu x)erson or represented. Air H. lthodos represented Waikato; Air OHUmrke, Auckland; Mr Boss, Wanganui; Messrs J. i>. Mitchell, Bremer, Uughton, Grant, etc., tho Hgmont district It is

a' pity Mr Short-was not informed tliat when. Hr A. Alexander was proposed as the delegate to represent tne West Coast on tho Canterbury committee his (Hr Short's) name was also proposed but did not find a seconder. I thereioro fancy it will not servo Mr Short's purpose to refer to the Palmerston meeting when he is lamenting about, the way the Canterbury Association is what ha terms “gulled." Ho can establish his Stud Book as he lilies, but ho will have to bestir himself if he is going to accomplish all ho elates in two years. I don't know how many breeders told him of their support in his travels, but the published list of ‘ members of his Stud Book can only show fourteen members north of Otago, not to mention Southland, wdiich arc nearly unanimous for Canterbury. Mr Short accuses me of “rambling." Perhaps I did, but 1 only rambled after his Hr Dunlop. Histalk about “a vituperative breeder" and tho “British liking the man , who can stand a beating," is in full aooord with Mr Short’s usual phrases, such as “old modern," utterly incoherent. I would - remind Mr Short that such an attack upon me is nutruo and unwarranted, and as yet, at anyratc. Hr Short has never bred a borso that has beaten one under my charge. Take tho competitions ho has shown at this and other years, and you will find I am justified in my statement. His statement “that judging is only one man's opinion," I agree with, and his further statement, "that in the South, Island you , have about eight breeders who domineer and run the judging at almost every and try to run their particular fancy." I beg of Hr Short to peruse his own utterances and ho will therein discover my answer to his references to tho Canterbury show. His assertion that “Mr Archibald - would mislead your readers as to tho class of purebred Clydesdale imported and their progeny bred in this country," is a most unfortunate ono for his case, as I havo Hr Short's 1 own opinion in writing as to the unsuitability of tho present day improved Clydesdale, and quote from Mr Short’s writings as my strongest arguments. Will Mr Short toll us which of his statements is the correct one? 1 can assure Mr, Short it is unmanly of him to attribute my reference to his great success in tho Argentine as he has done. I had no such intention and X was quite unaware.that any judges were “slated" till Mr Short informed us of tho fact. If I have in any way erred I humbly apologise. As to my judging of Lincolns at Wanganui two years ago, Mr Whybourne, who owned botji rams, informed mo, and so did his shepherd, that tho ram I placed first and champion was tho best breeder and therefore tho most extensively used in tho flock. Mr Short might with equal reasonableness accuse Mr Whybourno of being a “vituperative breeder." Hence, if Mr Devenport made as good a job in the Argentine as I seemingly did at Wanganui, X have every right to honestly congratulate Mr Short. I can also assure him he will not havo far to travel to get the animal ho wants for me to judge, but I refrain from discussing cither the colour, flesh, knees, or hocks of some of Mr Short’s horses. No doubt my employers will bo exceedingly grateful for Mr Short’s high opinion of them. If they are responsible for their own actions, it is quite as much ns Mr Short has been .able to show he is, when ho throws accusations broadcast about “British" fair play, “vituperative breeders" and "rambling writers," showing ns ho does a disregard for facts and fairness with a puerility which is at the service of any ono whose sense of propriety is sufficiently defective for their use. —I am, etc., WALTER P. ARCHIBALD. Hastings, December 6th-