SHEEP DOG TRIALS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1930, Page 10

SHEEP DOG TRIALS

MANG A ERU-STR ATFOI’.D CLUB

KEEN INTEREST AMONG SETTLERS

Enthusiasm in the affaira of their club wi’.ij evinced by. over 30 settlers in the Ttitutawa, Puniwhakaii and Makahu. districts when they assembled in* the Tututawa hall on Mon.day. evening for-- the annual meeting of : the Man-gaehu-Stratford Sheep Dog Trial Club, .gpme-of-the members had ridden ;and motored long distances, while their love of the spbrt°had brought, others splashing aloim mud roads from backblock holdings. ■ The harmony of the meeting and the general desire to act in the best interests of the club brought about lengthy discussions: on some matters, but° the interest displayed augured well for the future of; tbits energetic body. The president, Mr.- Levi Bunn, presided. The balance-sheet submitted by Mr. W- Norris showed, that £ll9 was received from all sources and £lO5 spent on the trials; smoke concert and dance. Thus the year resulted in a net profit of £l3 7s' Ud, .which, added to the accumulated reserves, left the club with just over £BO to carry forward. In moving the adoption of the bal-ance-sheet the chairman extended congratulations to members on. the success of the last trials and thanked all who had assisted the dub during the year. “Our success,” he said, “is due to the energy of the committees and stewards, the hard work of members, and the care of the secretary’. I have no hesitation iu saving that the ■ whole district is keenly supporting our annual trials. Mr.' Bunn said the alteration in the club’s boundaries had undoubtedly operated to the advantage of the trials, but he considered the elimination of boundaries altogether, with the provision of ample prizes for maiden dogs and owners and greater encouragement for novices, would prove even more successful. If novice and maiden shepherds cared to come from a distance to paiticipate in the trials, they should say “aood luck" to them if they won. . “We arc living in a sheep district and should be able To hold our .own with outside novices.” In any case, trials arrange<|. on this basis provided the best education for young dog-owners in watching other competitors. . Speaking of the high standard of the dogs that° competed during the last trials, Mr. Bunn congratulated Mr. Les Gower, a comparatively young competitor, upon his fine performance in seeming third award at the North Island championship. Dealing with the club’s finances, Mr. Bunn said their profit had not. been so large as in former years owing to the expense of the smoke concert and other, incidental commitments not encountered at earlier trials. However, it was very . gratifying to note the interest of the general public and the fact that theie were 550 visitors on the ground for the second day indicated that dog trials were very popular. Visitors had come from 'Wanganui and New Plymouth. A big attraction at the trials had been the. event for lady competitors, and there was cause for congratulation in the fact that Miss R. Jarvis, who won first prize, and Mrs. J. Welch, the run-ner-up, scored more points than a great many male competitors. Mr. Bunn made the suggestion that for an hour on people’s day the ordinary co npetitions should be suspended and a short programme of mixed events provided. If 'this was put into operation visitors would have an opportunity of scciiur leno heads, short heads, huntaways, etc., all within a reasonable space of time. Mr. J, B. Norris seconded the motion and a brief discussion ensued upon the financial statement, details of extra expenditure being investigated. In reply to a question °the ' chairman explained that, owing to the collection at the smoke concert being overlooked until a late hour, when many had already left, the function had resulted in a loss. On the other hand, there had been a slight increase in gates and entrance fees. The balance-sheet was adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ■ The following were elected: — Patron. Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P.; president, Mr. Levi Bunn (re-elected); hbn. secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Norris (re-elected); auditor, Mr. H. L. Walker; assistant secretary to act at the trials, Mr. Phil. Norris- business committee, Messrs. JI. L. Walker, J. Wekdi. J. B. Norris. 1). Corkiil, A. J. Holly and J. Hopkirk; dog (steward, Mr. A. Johnston; 6heep stewarel, Mr. D. Corkiil; gatekeepers, Messrs. E- Ure and T. Godkin; door-keeper, Mr. A. Buuning; timekeepers. Messrs. A, Bunuing and H. L. Walker; judge’s secretaries, Mesisrs. R. Ure and M. Syme; refreshment stewards. Messrs. E. Harwood and J. B. Norris; canvassers, Alessrs. H. L. Walker, J. B. Norris, D. Corkiil and W. Norris.

It was agreed to apply for the annual trials ou the last Wednesday and Thursday of February as in former years. As a .social gathering the smoke concert instituted last year proved an unqualified success and it was decided/to hold another on the evening •of the first day of the trials. “I am "lad you now see that point,” said Mr. A. J.' Holley when the chairman advocated the elimination of boundaries. “It is a matter I have been agitating for for years.” The chairman acknowledged that at one time he thought boundaries, as applicable to local events, were necessary. Now, however, he believed that the club courageous enough to dispense with boundaries would be the club to prosper in the future. “'lt is not many novices who travel and we want to encourage them to test their skill at Tututawa, he said. A member drew attention to the fact that an adjoining club had actually confined its boundaries and he considered no change should be made in the meantime.

On the matter being put to the meeting it was decided by the narrow margin votes to leave boundaries as in the past. The chairmen mentioned that enough volunteers h - come forward to warrant the club conducting its own catering arrangementtsifat the trials. He oiitlined the proposed arrangements and mentioned that the chib should be able

to make ft fair profit from the enterprise. On the other hand, some members foresaw many difficulties and a <’ood deal of discussion ensued on the question, but finally it was agreed that the club conducted its own catering. Mr. J. B. Norris rffering to denote the timber for building tables. Particular reference was made to the splendid work of the president and the secretary, each of whom was voted an honorarium of £3 3s.