UNHOUSED SHEEP.

Wairarapa Age, 10 November 1927, Page 5

UNHOUSED SHEEP.

SHOW CLASSES OVERCROWDED BY PROFESSIONALS. NO CHANCE FOR THE NOVICE. That some action is likely to be taken in future by the Masterton A. and. P. Association to prohibit the professional breeder from continuing the almost universal policy of scooping all the show prizes in the unhoused sheep classes, which were originally intended as competitions for novices was indicated in a discussion which took place at a meeting of the association yesterday. The discussion was raised through an announcement by the president (Mr. G. H. Perry) that several cups had been donated for the unhoused Southdown section at the next Masterton Show. Mr. H. Evans observed that at all district show's of late the unhoused classes in both Southdown and Romney breeds were crowded out with the .professional breeders who took all the prizes, leaving the amateurs with nothing. This, he said, was the ease at the Jubilee Show at Carterton. Mr. Vincent Buick declared that the unhoused class was absolutely departing from what it was originally intended for and .under present methods of competition it gave the amateur no chance. He thought that the association should draw a line somewhere and block the professionals, for the class was originally intended for the novice breeder and exhibitor. Mr. W. Kemp: “I thought the sheep men objected to being termed novices.” The chairman: “They don’t object so long as they can enter and win the money.” Mr. Perry added that in his opinion the growing popularity of the unhoused section would eventually kill the open classes and eliminate the competition among highly faked sheep. Mr. Gordon Lee stated that under present conditions the breeder who could not afford the time and money to dress up his sheep could not hope to compete in the open classes, and consequently he looked to the unhoused classes where he stood a better chanee of winning. Mr. L. R. Wilton declared that the unhoused classes had come to stay and their only remedy in checking a monopoly of the awards by one or two breeders was to divide the class into two sections, one for those who had previously won prizes and the other for legitimate novices. It was decided to keep this suggestion in view for future shows.