FARM COMPETITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 2

FARM COMPETITIONS

MEETING OF COMMITTEE REVIEW OF SEASON’S WORK The annual meeting of the Otago Farmers’ Field Competitions Committee was held yesterday. Mr J. M. Smith presided. Annual Report The annual report stated, inter alia;—Considering the times we are passing through, the season has been a very successful one, and there has been a definitely growing interest in the movement. It has been stated, and perhaps with a good deal of truth, that the farmers in the south are conservative, and this has been held to be a weakness and, in some quarters, almost a crime. A study of the farming history of the south will reveal the fact that this conservative nature of the farmer has proved a virtue. It has enabled the southern farmer to carry steadily on when his northern counterpart has been floundering deeply in the slough of a depression. It has built up a solidarity that is really envied in the north, despite what one sometimes hears and reads. This being so, one cannot, and did not, expect the Otago farmers to readily adopt new ventures in farming until they were recognised as sound. The field competitions in Otago started three seasons ago in a small way, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they were resuscitated in a small way three seasons ago. Entries were at first small, with but little interest, but to-day, after three seasons’ work, the interest is much greater than is apparent on the surface, and the advantages of taking part in the field competitions are being appreciated by a growing number of farmers. During the 1938-39 season three classes were catered for. and they were all well supported. The ewe hogget competition, when the trend of flock quality rather than the quality of a few select members of the flock is given consideration in judging, is proving very popular and has evoked much interest in those districts where it has been held. The crop classes are, unfortunately, ■subject to the ups and downs of the climate, and during the 1938-39 season we struck one of the “ downs.’ The class that will probably play the biggest part in the competition work in the future is that connected with pastures. With pastures as the basis of pastoral production, it is only to be expected that in a province like Otago any movement that has as its aim pasture improvement must receive the support of farmers. The report also gave full details of the competition held during the season, together with the results. Moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chairman expressed satisfaction at the season’s work, and thanked the judges, the joint secretaries (Messrs E. H. Calder and R. Cameron), and the A. and P. Society for their assistance, particular reference being made to the work of Mr H. S. Saxby, judge of the pasture competition. The motion was seconded by Mr A. C. Cameron, who said that in certain districts there had been disappointing attendances at the judging of the competitions, and the motion was carried after a short discussion. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted as follows:—Chairman, Mr J. W. Woodcock; joint secretaries, Messrs E. fl. Calder and R. F. Cameron: Executive Committee—Local members of Genera] Committee and Messrs W. J. Reid (Outram), J. Hallum (Waikouaiti), and G, Crawford (Green Island); auditor, Mr H. P. Aitken. A large General Committee, representing all districts in Otago, was also elected. General The conditions governing this season’s competitions for pasture, root crops, and ewe hoggets were fully discussed and approved Mr H. S. Saxby was reappointed judge of the pasture competition, and the A. and P. Sociely was asked t-n appoint the judges for the ewe hogget competition.