TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 20

TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The fifty-second annual meeting of the Taieri Agricultural Society was held at Outram on the 29th July. Mr W. R. Gawn (president) occupied the chair, and there were between 30 and 40 members present

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the Chairman stated that last year they had been somewhat unfortunate in the matter of weather at the time of their annual show. The day had been cold and stormy, and this had had the effect of lessening the gate takings. However, they had had an excellent show of horses, arid the quality was well up to tire standard of previous years. The entries were large, and the rings, especially those of young stock, were a credit to the district, and hequestioned whether the quality could be equalled in any other part of the Dominion. Last year several of their Taieri horses had been shown at, various northern and southern shows, and had come back with the highest of honours. Prior to the last show the committee decided to add to the schedule an extra class for colonial marcs, an I this had brought out a very fine rintr. In connection with the section for purebred sbcop and cattle, he regretted to have to record that last year these had been a distinct failure. In the class for sheep there had been only four exhibitors, in shorthorn cattle two, and in Ayrshircs three. At one time the entries in these sections had boon largo, but under the present conditions he was of opinion that it would bo .better to eliminate those classes and cater for an exhibition of fat stock. In this connection it had to bo remembered that the Taieri lands were used more as a fattening ground for stock than as a brooding ground for sheep and , cattle. Proof of that statement was contained in the fact that a steady stream of fat stock was continually leaving the district. Financially the society was in much the same position as last year, and though ir did net exist for the purpose of piling up funds, they had to remember that an increased income meant increased usefulness. He thought the committee should endeavour to induce more local residents to become members of the society, as their present local membership was "confined to about 100, including the committee, and ho behoved that, number could bo doubled with a little effort. Mr D. Andrew seconded the motion.

Mr G. Gordon expressed agreement with the chairman's remarks in regard to cattle and sheep. The Taicri district was one of the best in the Dominion for. the raising of fat stock, and it was also one of the best for shorthorns. Ho thought that rather than abolish these classes they should give breeders another chance, and by offering additional encouragement endeavour to bring forward increased entries. Mr Christie, referring to the matter of membership, said ho was strongly of op.nion that efforts shou’d be made to increase their numbers. , The motion was carried unanimously. j ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The Chairman announced that Mr James Miller had been elected president for the ensuing year, and ho was sure he would fill the position ably and well. Mr Miller took the chair amidst applause, and returned thanks for his election. He said he would endeavour to do his best for the society, and at the end of his term lie hoped to have ns good a report as the one before them that day. Mr W. 11. D. Christie was elected vicepresident;, and also returned thanks. Tiie election of the committee was then i proceeded with, and resulted as follows: —- Messrs T. J. (lawn, A. P. Gibson. J. Campbell, J, W. Blair, J. T. Nimmo. A. Johnston. W. Charter.*. D. Wyl'ie. A. Scott, W. Craig. D. O’Brien. G. Gordon, W. R. Ga wn, arrl C. H. Leith. Messrs T. Johnstone, A. Hamilton, and W. D. S nowball were re-elected honorary veterinary surgeons to the society. Air W. 1 R M'Lean was appointed secretary and treasurer, and Messrs J, A. M'Kt’nnon and W. J. J. Charters auditors. The following gentlemen are life members of the society:— Messrs T. Craig, R. Gown. W. Jaffray, D. Maneon, J. Shennan. J. Wylie, S. Young. W. 0. Todd. W r . Smith." J. Chaw, V,'. Blockie. D. Heid. J. Allan, and Dr Allan. PrHCHASF. OF A SHOW OROuND, The Cha : rman stated that the matter of j holding the show in a central position and ©n a ground that belonged to the society

was one tliat would have to receive early attention. —(“ Hear, hear.”) At the present time they were see-sawing between the east and west ends of the plain, and he understood that Mr Charters's paddocks at Mosgiel was being out up, and would not bo again available. Mr T. Gawn suggested that the Wingatui Racecourse would be very suitable for holding their Show. There would be every facility for landing stock when the double lino was completed, and the probabilities were that the attendances would largely

improve. Mr Gordon stated that the expenditure of i about £4O which appeared year after year in the balance sheet in connection with the holding of the Show would be saved if they had a ground of their own, and would in time have sufficed to purchase a ground that j would have met their requirements. Con- j tinning, he suggested that the show should bo held at Outram, as it was about the centre of the plain, and in the past show’s held there had been very successful. Mr A. F. Quelch (Mayor of Mosgicl) also ! supported the acquisition of a show ground ’ by the society, and expressed himself in ; favour of holding the annual exhibition at ' Wingatui, which from the point of view of ■ the exhibitor and the general public was j the most convenient site. j Messrs O. Findlay and D. Andrew objected to holding the show at Wingatui. They pointed out that when hold at Mosg el j it was by no means largely attended, and if I the Taieri people did not go to Mosgicl j they could,not be expected to go fo Vvingatui. Both speakers also expressed grave | doubts as to whether the society would be : able to obtain a lease of the racecourse for the holding of a shew. The Chairman remarked that owing to the dangerous crossing at Mosgicl he had nearly lost some of his sheep ct the last Show. It was a wonder that breeders did not oomo forward when a menace of that nature existed. Personally, he would not exhibit sheep again at Mosgiel on account, of the dangerous nature of the crossing there. Mr W. R. Gawn suggested that a commiltoe should ho set up to make inouines with the object of acquiring a suitable piece of ground in a central situation. It could report to a future meeting, and the matter could then be definitely decided. There was no chance of the society being able to buy the ground at Wingatui. and lie thought Iho area required should bemade the property of the society. Mr W. If. Jj. Christie seconded tno motion, which was carried unanimously. The matter was then left in the hands of the following committee: —Messrs .1. I Miller (president), Mr H. L. Christie (vicepresident), W. P. Gawn, J. Callander, and ! J. A. fiutlier'and. SHEARING WET SHEEP. i A SOUTHLAND JUDGMENT. An interesting judgment was de- i livered by Mr H. A. Young, S.M., at Queenstown (says the Invercargill correspondent of the Lyttelton Times) in a suit between the Inspector of Awards and Hugh Mackenzie and Sons (Mr Hanlon). The plaintiff claimed from defendants, who are shcepowners, of Waller Peak, Queenstown. £6O, Vicing £lO in respect of each of six alleged breaches of the Otago shearers’ award on January 8. Defendants were alleged to have dismissed six shearers from their employ because they refused to shear sheep they had reasonable grounds to consider wet. The question the magistrate had to determine was whether the shearers had ‘reasonable grounds” to consider the sheep wet. The evidence given by each of the six men wag in effect that the sheep shorn were very wet. Three of them suggested that the wetness was caused by droppings from other sheep. The evidence with respect fo the shed where they i were housed was that the roof was in good order, and that the walls were of wood with -a small space between each board. The magistrate said he was satisfied that only a few of the sheep, numbering 500 altogether, would be affected by rain. The shearers had held ballots to vote the sheep wet or dry and to act as a body according to the majority vote. The - present award left it to the individual , shearer to say whether ho considered sheep , wet, and if he had reasonable grounds for , so considering them and reported immedi- i ately he could not bo. compelled to shear. ' < The defendants were asked to be present i at the counting of votes, but they refused 1 to have anything to do with it. On each ■ occasion there were some who voted dry, 1 and although the defendants announced that they required these to continue all ] shearing was stopped. There could be no , objection to the shearers, in addition to j testing the sheep, making any inquiry as ,

to matters affecting the condition of the sheep, or discussing such conditions among themselves. If a shearer used reasonable care to ascertain the facts it would constitute reasonable grounds for considering the sheep wet. He could not be com pelled to shear if honestly believing in the existence of the facts he considered the sheep wet and reported immediately. The voting was not in any way a tentative measure in connection with any inquiry or discussion as to the condition of the sheep, but was a final pronouncement bv each man as to his belief in such condition, and as such was conveyed to the defendants. Assuming that some of the shearers did on reasonable grounds consider the sheep wet, and loss and inconvenience were caused to the defendants through disobedience by the others of their lawful orders, and as the men by their concerted action made it impossible for defendants to dismiss those w’ho ought to have been dismissed, defendants were, apart from the question as to whether a strike took place, justified in dismissing them all. Judgment was entered for defendants with costs.