CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17328, 30 May 1918, Page 8

CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY

lTie seventh.annual meeting of the Clydesdale Ilorse Society of New Zealand was | Jieid yesterday afternoon, and wa6 largely | attended. Thero were present several members from the North Island, and all the loading districts of Otago and Canterbury were represented.* In tfic absence of the president (Mr D. G. Wright, Windermere}, who has .been called up and has S£%S'Z i , Mr J - A - J'*"""™ — ■/", ad | l . res si Mr Johnstone stated that m tho existing: state of tho draught horse tk f WaB • not M matter to persuade the farming community of the noed LnoJ 1 a society - 115 th ? ira - for th<? y knew from experience that the industry " had not boen a profitable one for the last !h!Jf\ 0r i-u, y P ars , However, in npite of that fact the breeders of Clydesdale horses m JNew Zealand were aware that had thev been nearer the theatres of tho great wax thej would have experienced an unlimited and most, profitable demand for as many thousands of draught , and half-draught horses as the dominion could supply. Never before in the history of the heavy horse breeds had farmers in Britain received such phenomenal prices for their stock as since the war began In proof of this staterr ?P e ?ker quoted a few examples. In the United States of America and in Canada too, the trade was very prosperous, in Australia there was an improved demand for really first class young Clydesdale marea and fillies, with registered pedigrees, and well-bred heavy young geldings were in strong request. Prices m Australia were rather better than they were a year ago, »ut of course, owing to the war and tho cessation of public works, there had been no phenomenal rise in values. Ho thought a marked improvement in prices was inevitable when once tho war came to an end and the development work of tho oommonweaJth could again bo proceeded wiui. A bettor time, however, was in store for. the men who had had the oourago and the foresight to look into the future. Ihere were many -who predicted that the tractor plough would replace the horsedrawn implement upon the Land; but he That on level and light-' land the motor-driven plough had come to i staj he did not doubt, but so far as he th, a ¥ e mvest 'g a te tho matter, th. motor plough on heavy lands and on nilly country had not been a success in Australia, which had always been the best market for our Clydesdales, the land ™ 7 °+L l u e Commonwealth Government f ? r thfe breaking up of the large estates and for the resultant closer settlement of the people upon .the land. At no distant )T T" he we might look ' practically unlimited mar- — »™l ™v, ng ®f a,n o P e n to our horse breeders, and when that took place the trouble would do to meet the demand. TTio vital importance of live stock breed societies had only of recent years oome to be recognised, but nowadays ft was quite as impossible to sell a high-class stud animal of any description without the breed society's certificate of the pedigree and the Government veterinary . certificate of freedom from hereditary on- / soundness, as ft would be for anyone toattempt to sell a freehold estate without a title deed. After the war it must be the endeavour of all kindred societies to induos the Government of the dominion to estab--1 j agricultural colleges in both islandsi and it they were to excel in all matters pertaining to tho soil the sons and daughters of our farmers must be encouraged to avail themselves to the utmost of their - powers to take full advantage of the opportunities that attendance at these colleges would afford them. - B "Die motion for the adoption of the reP°JJ a "d balance sheet was carried. Mr Alex Hunter (Hawera) said that the past year had been one of stagnation to a certain extent. After a considerable time" the secretary resigned, intimating that he s«i? lm s >oßs ible to carry on the work Ar?,- neral Purposes Committee met in Wellington on July 27, 1917, and accepted the resignation, appointing Mr A. D. Perkrn, of Hawera (secretary of the Egmont A. and P. Society), to carry on the work. •Lne secretary had drawn out a statement of the society's financial position, showing that, provided members met their obligations, the society would be in a reasonably sound position. It was in the hands of members to make the society a strong .one* for its main assets were, of course, ~'th.e subscrintions. A matter of disappointment, 1d o ? lv . en members and affiliated A. and P. Societies just cause for grievance had been the delay in delivering the ' society s medals. Unfcrtunatelv, one consignmerft went to the bottom." A further order was sent, but no acknowledgment had heen received, so that apparently had also gone astray. In the British Clydesdale Horse Society's annual report mention was miule of the difficulty in sunnlying their medals owing to shortage of labour and txko of metals, so that they should prob•ibly be a bad second in any case. The election of office-bearers for the current --ear resulted as follows:—President Mr Jfmies Knight (Feilding); vice-presi-dents—North Island, Mr J. E. Sutherland Gisborne) and Mr Quentin Donald (Feathers'ron); South Island, Mr J. D. Wyllic (■Sefton) and Mr G. C. Thomson (Wairongoi). Council: North Island—Mr Quentin Donald (Feathcrston). Mr Alex Hunter (Hawera), Mr W. C. Park (Cambridge). Mr A. M'Nichol (Waikato): South Island—Mr J. Boa?, jun. (Brookside), Mr J. D. Wylhe (Sefton), Mr T. Logan (Otam.ij. Mr G. C. Thomson (Wairongoa). Mr James Birtles (Waikouaiti) was elected to the council In place of the late Mr William Charters. Mr Alex. Hunter (Hawera) was -lected treasurer, und the appointment of an auditor was left in his hands. The following new members were elected* i/ife member, Mr John B. Blair (Taieri)j members—Mr Alex. Brown, jun. (Morvenl * . Mr John Paul (StratfoH). Mr Han4 Mr William Richards (Cardiff), Mr Alex. Campbell (Woodside).