OWNER PROTESTS OVER DISQUALIFICATION OF COW AT ROYAL SHOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18407, 8 March 1928, Page 11

OWNER PROTESTS OVER DISQUALIFICATION OF COW AT ROYAL SHOW.

Disqualification of Mr J. A. Johnstone’s cow, Bushey Park Tea Rose, which was reserve champion in the Shorthorn class at the Royal Show, was referred to at a meeting of the general committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday afternoon. Mr E. Hay presided. Mr Johnstone wrote stating that, the rules were made in order to prevent any dishonest practice, but, as there was no suggestion of such in the present, case, the action of the Cattle Committee in disqualifying the animal on a mere technical detail, which was admitted bv the writer, was unfair. The cow, since she was a yearling heifer, had been every year at the Canterbury Show, and in making the entry Mr Johnstone's manager had always described the animal as bred by the writer. It was well-known to every Shorthorn breeder in New Zealand that the writer was not the mating breeder,

but his manager and he, in common with many other breeders, were of opinion that the place of birth constituted the owner of the dam at that time as the breeder of his calf. It was, the writer concluded, quite anti-British and unsportsmanlike to take advantage of a mere triviality. “The matter was thoroughly threshed out by the committee,” said Mr IT. S. S. Kyle, M-P., in moving that the letter be received. “We don’t want anv acrim on ious correspond en ce. ” The cow was advertised all over New Zealand as the champion cow, and Mr Johnstone received the credit for being the breeder, remarked another member. The C’orriedale Sheep Society wrote asking if inspectors cpuld be appointed for all Corriedale sheep exhibited at shows. It was decided tor keep the matter in mind in view of the next ram fair.