THE STANDARD OF SHOW JUDGING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 6

THE STANDARD OF SHOW JUDGING.

Although, owing to the moistnesa of the atmosphere, the Otago A. and P. Association's summer show was this year shorn of much of its spectacular effect, and although the Society's bank balance is bound to suffer from the diminished gate money, yet there is comfort and compensation in the thought that even the weather, all-powerful in many respects, oould not detract, from the educational value of the I Summer Show. And, after all, the! real justification of this annual j event, with all the labour and expense which it involves, He 3in the inspiration and instruction dispensed to the farming community By reason of the object lessons presented in the shape of the best strains and breeds of animals which the combination of. skill and science has been able to evolve. This at once raises the question whether the time has not arrived when the standard of judging at our principal agricultural shows ought to be raised and systematised both in the individual interests of breeders themselves and in the collective interest ,of the community as a whole. A glance baok over the past quarter of a century will reveal what tremendous strides have been ' made in the marketing of the products of the Dominion, with the, result that throughout the United Kingdom the name New Zealand is now synonymous with the highest quality of excellence. But this has only been accomplished after years of patient.working along recognised lines, including the acceptance of the principle that all exports shall, by careful grading, bear the Government hall mark of reliability and -good quality. We judge that the time has now arrived when further progress is impossible without a substantial improvement in the breeding of stock, together with the discovery of the types and strains of, beasts which will give the best

return in the shape of wool, meat, bacon, butter and cheese, climate, locality, and other environing circumstances being taken into consideration. It is open to question whether the present system of judging in the chief agricultural shows in the Dominion does not tend to confusion rather than agreement in the matter to which we have referred. A concrete instance will serve to illustrate the point at which we are aiming. The Corriedale class in the sheep section represents an attempt to produce a permanent type which shall give the best results not only in quality and quantity of wool, but also in quality and quantity of mutton. Different breeders have essayed different methods^ of crossing in order to arrive at the desired,, object, consequently there is a difference of opinion in regard to the exact type of sheep to be evolved. Owing to this difference of opinion on the part of the judges, the particular type which took first prize in the Corriedale class in the Christchurch Show was yesterday passed over and the Dunedin prize awarded to sheep of another strain. Thus sheep* breeders who desire to have the, question authoritatively settled as to which is the strain of sheep that will give the best return for capital and care invested look in vain for a unanimous decision on the part of the judge at the shows. Similar examples productive of the same confusion could easily be cited in respect to other sections, but the one mentioned will suffice to make the point clear. A valuable suggestion, emanating from a prominent committeeman of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, has reached us, and which appeals to us as worthy not only of the fullest consideration but of early adoption, providing certain difficulties likely to arise in actual practice can be met and overcome. The essence of this proposal is that the judging in each class in all the principal shows in the Dominion shall be done by the same man — in every case the single judge system being adopted. Besides the four principal shows — viz., Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Manawatu — there are 12 or 13 other shows whose committees would possibly see their way to fall in with the uniform system of judging — viz., Gore, Oamaru, Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora,- Courtenay, Wairarapa, Wanganui, Feilding, Hastings, Gisborne, Hamilton, and Auckland. It would be within the province of each of these societies to ' nominate a judge for each section, the ultimate selection being by the process of exhaustive ballot. This should result in the choice falling ujjon a. judge eminently

qualified for the position, whose decisions would be accepted without demur. The number of judges required would be about nineteen. In the sheep classes eight judges would be needed — one each for the merinos, the Lincolns, the Border Leicesters, the Leicesters, the Corriedales, the Shropshires, the Downs, and the Romneys. The cattle classes would engage the attention of other five judges, to preside respectively over the shorthorns, the polled Angus, the Herefords, the Ayrshires, and the Alderneys. Four more judges would be needed for the horse classes — one for the Clydesdales, one for the Suffolk Punches, one for the hackney and carriage horses, and one for the cobs and ponies. The pig classes would claim the attention of two judges — one for the Berkshires and one for other breeds,. — bringing the total to the nineteen already mentioned." It may be taken for granted that there are to be found many gentlemen perfectly qualified and* in possession of sufficient time at their disposal to enable them to undertake the somewhat onerous task if visiting nineteen shows in the course of one summer. The associated societies would naturally be called upon to make a pro rata contribution towards the expense involved in the appointment of these judges, the amount of each society's contribution being arrived at in proportion to the number of judges whose services would be required. It may confidently be anticipated that such co-operative action on the part of the leading Agricultural Societies would in due time receive not only Government recognition but also Government assistance, for the value of this uniform system of judging should certainly, entitle it to a subsidy, and it would be infinitely preferable to the proposal, emanating from some quarters, of two national shows, one for the North Island and one in the South Island,, to be promoted and conducted by the Government. The uniform, judging system preserves the independence of individual societies and at the same time gives a value to prize-taking impossible under the existing system. At the close of the judging for the season it would be the duty of the appointed judge to draw up a report summarising the results, pointing out weaknesses, encouraging those who have done well, and giving reasons and principles for the awards made. These reports, issued year by year, would serve as sign-posts on the road of progress, and eventually must make for a marked improvement in the character and money-producing quality of the flocks and herds of the Dominion. And it stands to reason that such improvement in the breed and strain of the horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs of New Zealand will lay the foundation for a steady increase both in the quantity and quality of our exports, and thus bring about increasing wealth and prosperity to all classes and sections of society. We therefore commend the scheme to the calm and mature consideration of all the Agricultural Societies, with the suggestion that, if possible, a conference be arranged, to be attended by "representative delegates, with the idea of drawing up and submitting to the parent bodies a practical scheme, embodying the ideas which we have here briefly outlined.