SHOW JUDGING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 21

SHOW JUDGING.

EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. The question of show judging causes a good deal of discussion in all stock-breedanjf countries. The American Sheep Breeder, in a recent isme, says:—For 30 yeans ws have been a ring-side snectator. During that time wo have carefullv observed the various systems in vogue at county, State, national and international shows. As a reporter of sheep shows, we have been an eye and ear witness to everything that_ happens at »uoh places from the ordinary scrimmage to the .Tack Johnson stv’e of heavy blows with fists, hammers, and other deadly “wcepins.” We have listened to everything from good-natured show-ring banter to gibea and taunts and the sort of acrimonious debate that leads to bitter ana everlasting enmity. We have heard chargee and countercharges of fraud made. We’ve seen petty Intrigue, and known of great conspiracies to defeat the ends of justice at world's ehows. We’ve seen the same sheep shown in several classes. We’ve seen sheep bought and sold for the next entry. We’ve seen combinations made to divide the money. We’ve known many and good

judges. We've known many and crooked judges. We’ve seen mild cases of working wio judge, and likewise open and brazen attempts to influence awards. We’ve seen the rankest and rawest attempts made to influence the appointment of judges. What wc haven’t seen and heard of isn’t worth mentioning. Not in years have wo heard eo much complaint and so many bitter ■words and charges made as this season. Without going into details, which would fill an extra edition of the Sheep Breeder, •wo are going to lay the blame where it belongs—at the root of the system, which is oil wrong. When wo took up the question of show reform, some of the old campaigners did a good deal of kicking and f;rowling and thought wo were stirring up rouble for nothing, but ea we continued to stir up the mud, we found the sheep public ■was with us, and the deeper we went the better it pleased them. It didn’t take long to get everybody’s tongue wagging, with the result that the show ring had a j Congressional Hearing,” and the most parching one ever known in the history of Sheep husbandry in this country. Now, “what does it all amount to, anyway? Wo have found out one thing, that people want honest shows, presided over by honest and intelligent judges. The people are disgdSbed with the big and little combinations made to monopolize the honours and money. The people, including the majority of the exhibitors themselves, are sick of ‘‘association politics” and' “State politics” mixed up with the big fairs and shows of the country.