INSPECTION OF RAMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26774, 18 May 1948, Page 8

INSPECTION OF RAMS

PRESENT SYSTEM FAVOURED The present system of Inspecting rams at ram fairs was supported by the Southern District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society at its conference at Gore. Mr H. P. Mclntyre (Waikaka) said that he felt that there was a lack of uniformity in the inspection of rams at the various fairs. He contended that an endeavour should be made to arrive at a satisfactory standard. He also felt that many breeders could get past the inspection by selling at public auction or privately, and as long as this applied, the inspection at ram fairs was to some extent a farce. He moved that a remit be sent forward to the Royal Society asking that inspection of rams be carried out on a uniform Dominion basis. He said that some Agricultural and Pastoral societies had appeal committees and others did not, and he thought that a uniform system should apply. The remit was seconded by Mr Gordon Mackay (Otama). 1 Mr Peter Campbell (Winton) defended the present system and contended that it was impossible to inspect on the farm or ft auction sales because there were not enough inspectors. Mr Alex, Murray (Taieri) said that the Romney Marsh Sheep Breeders’ Association had drawn up a uniform list of instructions to inspectors, and his association was doing its utmost to see that unsatisfactory rams were not sold. Mr W. G. Ladbrook (Gore) said that the inspection at ram fairs had improved the quality of the Southdowns. The president. Mr J. A. Edwards (Gore), said that a big improvement had resulted from the inspection of rams at ram fairs, and he would be sorry to see the inspection discontinued. All the leading societies in the southern district had appeal committees, but it was only on an odd occasion that the ruling of the inspector was reversed. The remit was defeated by a large majority, and the council agreed to support the present system.