A.AND P.ASSOCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6827, 21 June 1900, Page 4

A.AND P.ASSOCATION.

An adjourned meeting of the General Committed of tihe Canterbury* Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday ' afternoon ; present — Messrs G. Jameson (president), E. G. Staveley, W. Boag, S. Garfoxth, W. Reece, W... P. M. Buckley, T. W. Adams, A. Chamberlain, P. Duncan, KG. W. Gray, 0. P. Hugonin, H. A. Knight, J. Henderson, F. J. Million, R. M. Macdonald, D. D. Macfarlane, J. B. Reid, S. P. Murray- Aynsley, J. Anderson, H. Overton, P. A. Archer, R. N. Bealey, J. Mnrchison and Dr Levinge, The Sheep Committee brought up its report as to the conditions of tine competition for the cup, value £50, to be given for merino sheep. In addition to the cup, there will be given a gold medal, value £5. Each exhibitor will be allowed to enter not less than three, or more than five merino rams, not more than one year and four months old on Nov. 1, 1900, all rains to be bred by exhibitor. These rams may be entered for any other section or class for which they are qualified in 1900 or 1901. The entry fee will be £1 Is for each .ram, and when one exhibitor has won the cup three times, it will become his property. The rams entered will bs shown in November, 1900, and will be inspected by judges, who will be instructed to disqualify any rain not considered by them suitable for' etud purposes. The qualified rams vrlti. be taken charge of by the committee,' shorn and grazed as the committee may deem desirable, but at the owner's risk. j.he rams will be exhibited at the Association's show in 1901 ; they will then be shorn, as the committee may^deem desirable, and the fleeces will be carefully weighed, marked and packed. The fleeces will afterwards be scoured, and wiU be valued by experts ; the fleece showing 'the greatest money-value to be declared the winner. The report was adopted, ajid Sir John Hall, and Messrs C. P. Hugonin, 'F. J. Militon, J. Murchison and D. D. Macfarlane were appointed a committee to make arrangements for the competition.' The Sheep Commifctee also recommended certain alterations in the sheep classes. It could not see its way to recommend judging by points. It recommended that the champion medals should be of a uniform value— £2 2s ; that two classes should be added for fat lambs; ten lambs suitable fox the frozen meat export trade; long-woolled, lambed since June 30, 1900 ; no lamb to exceed 441b when dressed ; price not to exceed £1 each. A similar class for short- i woolled lambs. The report . was adopted. . Among tihe reconunendations made by the Cattle Commititee was that tihe time of ownership before the 'show should oe reduced from two months to two weeks, but an amendment, that the time should remain ;at two months, was carried. On tihe recommendation of the committee, it was decided that all placed animals in Classes 60, 51, 52, 53; 56, 57, 58 and 59 should be weighed immediately after judging, and the weight affixed to the pens ; and also that champion ribbons should be awarded, in the Ayrshire Classes, as in the Shorthorn Classes:' The Dairy Produce Committee recommended that the entry fees should be fixed at 3s fox non-members, and 2s for members. Certain increases in pris»-mttney were recommended to the committee appointed to revise the scale of entay fees ■ and prizes. The committee recommended tihe introduction of a class for 'honey, and also a class for butter made from pasteurised milk. The report was adopted. ] On tihe recommendation of rthe Pig- Committee, it was agreed to reduce the weight of bacon-pigs in Class 34 to - 2401b live weight. • i • . The question of holding a' three days' show this year was discussed.Mr Staveley. said'it appeared, on the face of it, that it would be easy -to arrange for a division of the. Carnival Week equally between tihe Jockey Club and the Association. That being so, he thought there was no more fitting time to inaugurate a three days' show than the Jubilee Year. He moved that tihe November Show should this year be extended to three* days. Mr Duncan seconded tlfe motion. _'Mr Overton said that he was very sorry that he could not support the proposal. He did not think the owners of live stock would agree to leave their exhibits at the grounds for three days, in addition to which there would be tie additional loss of time. A suggestion had been made that the first day should be devoted to a show of implements, but that had been tried at the Royal Show in England, and had proved a failure^ At the same time, he was not satisfied that they were making the best use of their present two days; and if •they made an earlier start, and offered some attractions, they could induce the people to attend on the first day. 'Mr Buckley said that he thought the question should be deferred until they heard the decision of the Jockey. Club. While

there was racing on one day of tihe show, they would not get the people to attend on that day. Dr. teviage said he did not tfhink they should altogether be govemedi by the Jockey Club, amd he considered that a three days' show could be managed. Mr Boag said that he would like to see a three days' show, if it could be arranged. Mr Macdonald said 'he thought they should have a three days' show ; but they nrosfc not begin *he show with the day on whicih there was the least to see. If there was to be a day devoted to implenien.ts aald machinery, it should be the last day, reutiher than the first. v Mr Anderson said 'he was strongly in favour of a thiree days' show, and he was sure tha* if the Jockey Club was approached properly it would work heartily with the Association. Its interests were the Association 7 a interests. \ 4 Mr Reece i said he thought it was a very great shame that that great show should -be broken up before the people had had time to see more of it. Tibs Jockey Club was desirous of meeting the Association, if possible. He could not understand the objections, of stock-breeders to a three days' show, looked at from a business point of view. . The Chairnrcm said he was informed tihat the Jockey dub was endeavoiiring to arrange to race on the Saturday of one week, and Monday, Wednesday and Saturday of the following week. • > Mr Stavelev said that, under those oir-' cmnstances, they should be able to ran a thiree days' show successfully, although it was unfortunate that one of the race days and show days should clash. ■ The inconvenience would be minimised if arrangements could be made far a special train to ran from the Show Grounds to the Racecourse. . ■ The motion was" carried, with but one dissentient. The question of the prices to be charged for admission was referred to the Finance Committee. The questions to be brought before the Agricultural Conference were considered. Afc A. Chamberlain moved-—" That this Association brmg before the Confereoce the enormous increase in the pernicious practice of Sunday shooting, much to the annoyance of stock-owners ; and that Parliament be asked to legislate to abolish the practice," The motion was seconded by Mr Hugonin, and carried. Approval was expressed of the following motions, which had been placed on the order paper of the Conference by the Canterbury Association :— " That the ' yearly recurring insufficiency of grain trucks is a serious loss and incojiveniemce to farmers, and urgently demands the attention ,of Parliament." "That increased facilities be given for obtaining tracks and sheets fotr the conveyance and covering of produce, particularly straw, chaff, grain, timber, etc." " That Government be approached with a view to a better supply of sheep trucks." " That the Government he asked to take such measures as will expedite the transport of stock to and from shows by running special trains, and minimising the nnmber of 'shxmtings." '■ That in the opinion of this Conference" a Noxious Weeds Bill, dealing with the Californian thistle only, is urgently needed." "Thaifc some means be adopted, by taxing or otherwise, for reducing the number of stallions of inferior quality plying for public patronage." " That 'analysts be employed bv Gcrrenanent in 'the ' principal centres for the puTpose of analysing manures and soils," "That Government be approached, with a view to having an alteration of the law «* as to enable an analysis of manures, with the names of the manufacturer a nd vendor, to be published for the benefit of farmers." " That in the opinion of this Conference it is desirable that the telephone system should De extended to the country districts xo a greater degree tJhan is at present the case." "That with a view to uniformity in the nomenclature of apples and pears — thereby avoiding: much confusion and- loss to growers— JtheT)epairtment be | asked to nuike enquiries as to cost pi obtain- ! ing from the most reliable source* a collection of models of all the leading and meet marijetable varieties of opj)l&s and pears. Sets of these inodtis to be available for all Fruit-growers' Associations and other interested bodies throughout the colonies at cost price."' The Association's delegates were instructed to oppose the proposal of the Ashburtoa Association far the establishment of a show to be held alternately in the North and South Islands, son:©what on 'the lines of the "Royal Show" in England. The question of the reduction of the size of cornsacks, which is one of the questions to come before the Ccmferenoe, was discussed, but no resohitdon was arrived at. The committee expressed its approval of the Bill- promoted by the Otago Agricultural arid Pastoral' Society in order to enable Agricultural Associations to acquire freehold nnd leasehold lands in order to erect thereon offices or ether buildings. The meeting Then closed.