PLOUGHING MATCHES

Southland Times, Issue 20497, 28 May 1928, Page 3

PLOUGHING MATCHES

SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. At the monthly meeting of the Southland Ploughing Match Association on Saturday morning, tjiere were present: —Messrs W. R. Ronald (chairman), W. Clark, I. A. Buckingham, A. Ronald, W. L. Gray, J. Drain, Jr., W. Blakie, J. Gray, G. Gray, L. Ronald, D. McPherson, A. S. McNaught and A. L. Adamson (secretary). The chairman reported that Mr Buckingham and he had gone into the question of dates for the ploughing match and they had decided that it would not be at all advisable to run a match in the same week as Drummond. The slight advantage gained by having northerners down for the two matches would be lost by losing Southland men. It was finally decided to hold the match on July 11. The action of Messrs W. L. and W. A. Gray in securing suitable paddocks for ploughing was confirmed. A letter was received from the secretary of the Central District Sub-Union, advising that a cup valued at £lO 10/- had been donated to the association to be competed for in any class and to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. The letters also asked that a town playing area should be provided for the sub-union’s annual match with a town team on the occasion of the association’s ploughing match. It was decided to accept the offer of Mr Blakie’s paddock for the playing field. It was decided to devote the cup to the champion class to take the place of the Kennedy Cup which had been won outright. The secretary was instructed to write to the sub-union thanking it for the donation. A letter was received from the trustees of the Reginald Mackinnon Trust advising that £5 would be allotted for prizes. The secretary was instructed to thank the trustees; and it was decided to leave the money unallocated in the meantime. After discussion, it was decided to make an admission charge of 1/- for gentlemen and admit ladies and children free. The question of using a tractor in the champion class was raised by Mr Buckingham. Mr McNaught said the deep-cut ploughing as done by horses was the thing that must be kept to. The tractor would introduce the high cut. It was decided that the conditions relating to tractor ploughing should be the same as in the horse ploughing events. It was moved also in respect to the tractor ploughing events that the cut should be from 9 to 1(H inches wide and not less than 6 inches deep and that any cut be allowed. After much discussion the motion was carried. The requirements for the plain ploughing class were fixed to be a furrow not less than nine inches wide, not less than six inches deep, any cut to be allowed. The matter of appointing judges was left to a later meeting.