PROPOSED NEW POULTRY ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 36

PROPOSED NEW POULTRY ASSOCIATION

FOR OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND

The following is a copy of a circular which is being sent to the secretaries of all 1 poultry clubs south of the Waitaki. If tho clubs addressed agree to the proposition submitted, the probable outcome will be the formation of an association for Otago and Southland, which will secure all the benefits of association without the disabilities which appear, unfortunately, unavoidable in a combination covering such a large area and striving to promote harmonious working amongst so large a num-.' ber of conflicting interests as does the South Island Poultry and Pigeon Association. The circular is signed by quite a number of influential fanciers:

It is tho opinion of a large number of fanciers about Dunedin that tho South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association has out-lived its usefulness, and that it would bo in the best interests of tho poultry fancy in Otago and Southland to at once secede from it.

At a committee meeting of the Dunedin Fanciers' Club, held on. May 9, a notice of motion was brought forward to secede from the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, when the chairman (Mr E. Webster) ruled that it was a matter for a general meeting of the club to deal with.

After the business of the meeting was finished a friendly discussion took place as to whether a change was desirable, ' and the general opinion of fanciers nresent was that a change is very desirable. Now, with that end in view, wo, the undersigned fanciers, ask you to call a general meeting of your club at your earliest convenience to see whether, in the opinion of your club, it is desirable for the following reasons to secede from affiliation with the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association :

(1) That it is not in the best interests of clubs in Otago and Southland that an Executive Committee of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, consisting of three residents of . Christchurch, should be in a position to exercise supreme control over the whole e of the poultry clubs in Otago and Southland. (2) That it is not in tho best interests of poultry clubs to be compelled to appoint only the judges approved of by the Executive Committee of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, at considerable expense to club 1 ' • and we are further of opinion that if the present system is allowed to continue it will tend to place the fancy in the hands of professional judges and breeders, which would be very detrimen-

tal to genuine fanciers, and small clubs in particular. (o) We arc of opinion that each dub should have the full right to appoint any judge or judges who they believe are qualified to judge their show; for the success of every show greatly depends on the judges, and the club has got to take all responsibility in connection with their show. We hold that they 'should have full control in appointing their officials. (4) All the poultry shows in Otago and Southland are dependant principally on their own districts for support, but if they were free to arrange their own dates for shows it could bo done to greater advantage than at present. A disadvantage that a number of small clubs in Otago and Southland labour under is the want of an up-to-date planjt to run their show with. Now, the Dunedin Fanciers' Club have got an up-to-date plant, and if the dates were properly arranged we see no reason why that plant would not serve the whole oi the clubs that require them in Otago and Southland. As a matter of -fact, the

Dunedin Fanciers' Club are often reluctantly compelled to refuse country clubs the use of their plant on account of dates not allowing sufficient time to get their plant returned for their own show. We see no reason why dales for shows cannot bo amicably arranged, and, seeing that the Dunedin Fanciers' Club have an up-to-dato poultry show plant, it would be for the benefit of the fancy generally and greatly assist small clubs if they could have the use of it at a nominal; cost.

If your club thinks it would be to the advantage of the poultry fancy in Otago and Southland to secede from the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, kindly let me know at your earliest convenience.