CLYDESDALE HORSE BREED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1928, Page 14

CLYDESDALE HORSE BREED

PROMISING OUTLOOK REVEALED, AGAIN DOMING INTO ITS OWN. The annual meeting of the Clydesdale Horse Society of the Dominion was held at Dunedin on June 6, Mr. Thomas Logan, Otamo (president), being in the chair. The annual report and balancesheet and the chairman’s remarks revealed a healthy financial position and a promising future for the heavy horse breed in New Zealand. The membership showed a steady increase and was now just over 600, stated the report, Seventy-four new members had been elected during the year, and 14 resignations had been received. The privileges granted made membership worth while, and the committee hoped to see many others take,advantage of the privileges. While the transfers for the year were not so great as in the previous years, this could be accounted for by the fact that the demand for horses had increased very considerably; consequently, more mares were being retained and put to the stud, which promised well for the future.

The balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the year totailed-'T'J 470 4s lid, while the payments, including £4OO deposits to the Farmers’ Co-operative Association, amounted to £1989 8s Id. The surplus of assets over liabilities was £2424 7s 3d. In his report the treasurer, Air. A. Hunter, said that the main items of tho receipts—subscriptions and entry-fees—-were maintaining a high average. The amount received for entry fees was the largest in the history of the society. Fancy prices for horses were conspicuous by their absence, so it could be assumed that breeders were satisfied with the steady trade prevailing. Transfers had kept at a high level, and the number of late fees was low.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman referred to the excellent financial position of the society. A year or two back it was thought that the tractor would oust the horse, but of late the horse was gaining ground. Even in America, where petrol and machines were comparatively cheap, the horse was coining into its own. Size, weight, quality and action were the main objectives of breeders, and the right type of .horse in New Zealand was hard to get, and always commanded a good price. Registrations for Vol. 10 of the Stud Book, which closed on June 30, showed a big increase over Vol. 9. To date the figures had increased by over 20 colts and stallions and 100 mares and fillies The demand for Stud Book mares was very keen indeed, and it behoved every breeder to give attention to the registration of his animals. On the 1927-28 annual returns the committee was pleased to say that almost every filly foal had been registered by the breeders. During the year two.very fashionably bred mares were imported to the Dominion by Mr. Andrew Grant, of Fairlie —Craigie Ella and Craigton Helenora. These mares should be an asset to this country, and the committee extended to Mr.- Grant its congratulations.

The Union Steam Ship Company's Cup was won outright by the Moore Hunter Estate (Haw-era) at the Carterton show, this being its fourth victory. The Moore Hunter Estate had very generously represented this valuable cup to the society for competition under the . same conditions as formerly, and to them thanks was due. Breeders were giving a very great deal of attention to veterinary examination, and the committee looked forward with every confidence to having the Stallions’ Bill placed on the Statute Book during the coming session of Parliament. It hoped to have Volume 10 ready for distribution to members by October 1 in order that they might have a record of their entries for the show season.

The financial position of the society was rapidly improving, and everything pointed to a prosperous future. for the society and for the breed. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr. Q. Donald (Featherston) ; vice-presidents, Messrs S. Fleming and D. G. Wright (South Island), and Sir R. D. MoLean and Mr. A. McNicol (North Island); treasurer, Mr. A. Hunter; council, Messrs J. Knight (Feilding), R. D. Knight (Longburn), E. A. Washer (Okaiawa), 11. Wilson (Bulls), A. Thomson (Kelso), R. Kennedy (Drummond), R. Loekhcad (Christchurch), and D. G. Wright (Windermere) ; auditors, Messrs Walkley and Cameron (Hawera). It was decided that it be a recommendation to the incoming council that the photographs of the three leading stallions and the three leading mares in each island be printed in the Stud Book. The following resolution was carried unanimously: “That the Minister of Agriculture be asked to place the Stallions’ Bill on the Statute Book during the coming session of Parliament.”