STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1925, Page 8

STRATFORD NEWS.

PEDIGREE JERSEY CATTLE. THE STRATFORD CLUB. A PROSPEROUS YEAR. (From Our Own. Reporter.) Stratford, July 22. The thirteenth annual meeting of the Stratford Pedigree Jersey Cattle Club was held to-day, the president (Mr. D. O’Sullivan) presiding over a good attendance. The report stated:—“Twelve new members have -been enrolled ami three resignations accepted. The amount received for subscriptions during the year is £5l, being eqm.uieut to 6b financial members. Tlie membership roll stands at 103, from which it will be seen that a large number of members are still outstanding with their subscriptions. The first Futurity Stakes was successfully concluded at the 1924 Stratford .show, nine animals being exhibited for the 'final. Mr. F. W. Cornwall was the owner of both first and second winning animals. A total of £ll3 was received for distribution amongst the prize winners, after allowing for the amount of expenses to be deducted. The second Futurity Stakes was launched early in the year and produced an entry of 84 animals. The fees charged for nomination and acceptances were considerably reduced for this competition, and it is expected this will be the means of a good many more animals entering for the final in 1927. The loss of the club’s president (Mr. Frank Hanford) very considerably disorganised the working of the club, and several functions usually held were in consequence abandoned for ’the year. A special meeting of members was called immediately after Mr. Ranford’s death, when resolutions of sympathy with his wife and family anil appreciation of the many services he rendered to the club and the breed were passed. His loss is fully realised by the committee and members of the duo. It is hoped that the coming year will show added interest in the affairs of the club, and that members will bring forward any matters which they consider of benefit to the breed and members generally. These can be discussed and, if thought advisable, sent forward to the provincial council and from there on to the Dominion Council.” The balance-sheet disclosed a credit balance of £34 15s 6d. In moving the -adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president congratulated members upon the satisfactory position of the club. , In seconding, ill’. H. H. Hunt referred to the increase in membership, and expressed pleasure at the interest shown by members, who, he said, were coming to realise their responsibilities more and more and were now attending meetings with greater keenness. He also considered the financial position a very good indication of the prosperity of the club. The- report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —-President, Mr. D. G’Sullivan; vice-president, Mr. E. 11. Linnell; committee, Messrs. 11. Hunt, D. I’. Malone, 0. McAloon, W. Johnson, and C. Clemow (subject to his consent); delegates to the provincial council, Messrs. D. O’Sullivan, E. H. Linnell and H. Hunt; auditor, Mr. J. 11. Thompson. The secretary was voted ’ the same honorarium as last year. The resignations of Messrs. J. Huggins and W. Taylor were received with regret, TOO BIG A RESERVE FUND. Mr. Linnell moved that the provincial council be recommended to reduce all fees by half. The reason, he explained, lay in the fact that the parent body was building up a big reserve, and when one came to think of it it was only Jersey breeders who were contributing to this fund. The parent body was doing nothing with the. money to assist individual breeders. When the association was first formed it was, no doubt, necessary to impose the scale of fees breeders were paying at present. Ho contended that .the association existed for the benefit of breeders and not to make money out of breeders. The time was now -opportune when they should endeavour to help themselves a little.

On the grounds that the remit would promote a useful discussion, though he doubted if it would be adopted, the president seconded the motion. Mr. H. Hunt preferred to -see a portion of the accumulated fund devoted to increasing subsidies on prize money for Jersey cattle at A. and P. shows. He pointed out that Jersey breeders had to thank A. and P. associations for bringing Jerseys so prominently before the public.

Mr. D. R. Malone thought a portion of the fund should be set aside to assist in reducing the high cost of insuring valuable, animals. Mr. K. Tarrant felt that the most useful purpose to which the reserve fund could be applied would be In the direction of reducing the testing fees, especially in the ease of first cows. Mr. Malone -said the Friesian breeders were, already subsidising testing. Mr. Tarrant said the tendency row-a-days was to look to the Government for everything. It was time that breeders began to help themselves, more particularly in the matter of testing.

In reply, Mr. Linnell pointed out that the suggestions mentioned round the table had already been brought forward and had proved fruitless. The object of bis motion was to prevent the association from accumulating so rapidly when they would not In turn help the breeders.

The president said tho object of the reserve fund was to erect new offices for the headquarters of the association. The motion was adopted.

ASSISTING YOUNG TESTERS. Mr. 0. Jackson moved that the New Zealand Jersey Cattle -Breeders be asked to pay half t'lie cost of testing the first cow in -semi-official testing of pedigree cows. He believed they wore only asking for a fair thing, for there was no doubt that the high cost of testing the first cow was a very heavy burden, especially on young breeders. The Government could not reduce its fees and run the semi-official test without a loss. After .some discussion in favour of tho proposal, the motion was unanimously adopted. “That is a remit I would like to see go forward,” said Mr, Hunt, when the secretary read a remit to be presented by the New Plymouth club at the meeting of the provincial council in New’ Plymouth. The remit was to the effect that the council be urged to insist ’on all pedigree Jerseys being branded before registration, and with a view to ensuring that this would be done the council be urged to make an inspection of herds where animals were found unbranded after registration and that such registrations be cancelled. In according his support to the proposal, the president said he would like to go even further and try to get the tattoo or Arc brand enforced. The meeting decided to support the remit. GENERAL MATTERS. The matter of arranging special classes for the show was left to the committee. The president announced that the club had -been fortunate in getting the services of Mr. C. J. C. Denner, ot Cheltenham, to act as judge at the forthcoming show. It was agreed to purchase an enlarged photograph of the club's late president (Mr. F. Ransford), to be hung in the board room as a memento of tho valuable work ho had done in the interests of the breed and the club. The president announced that there was a movement on foot to persuade the Stratford A. and P. Association to donate a small shield for competition among school children interested in tho classes promoted by the association. The shield was to be known as the Ranford Memorial Shield .in commemoration of the great interest the late Mr. Ranford had taken in the work of the children in this connection. The committee was asked to arrange the date of the annual bull fair, with a recommendation that it be not earlier than October 15. Votes of thanks were accorded members of the outgoing committee and the Press. GENERAL ITEMS. -Private advice has been received in Stratford that Drs. VV. P. and Doris Gordon will leave London on their return to New Zealand next Saturday. Stratford’s representatives in the North Island football team (Messrs. J. Walter and A. Kivell) left by this morning’s mail train en route for Invercargill. They were enthusiastically farewelled by a number of their football friends.