MATTHEWS CUP.

Wairarapa Age, 23 May 1936, Page 4

MATTHEWS CUP.

PRESENTATION TO WINNER OF FLEECE CONTEST.

SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.. The Alfred Matthews Memorial Cup r won by Mr. T. A. Brown, of “Waihi,’* Westmere, in the Farmers’ Union Fleece Competition, was presented to the winner by Sir William Perry at, the meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, on Thursday. Sir William Perry said it gave him particular pleasure to present the cup. The late Mr. Alfred Matthews, whose memory this trophy perpetuated, was a great judge of wool. Sir William said he did not think any man ever bred Romney sheep who was a better judge of wool than Mr. Matthews. It was pleasant to know that the cup was keeping in mind what Mr. Matthews had done for the country. Sir William said he had been glad to act as one of the judges of the wool gathered by their secretary at the autumn shows.. He had noticed, as time went on, a. wonderful improvement in these fleeces. He thought the competition should be continued and' that farmers should for their own education give it all possible support. He hoped that in future farmers would support the competition very much more than they had in th. past. It was incidentally one way of augmenting the funds of the Union, though the- contribution from individuals was very small. He congratulated Mr. Brown on winning with a very fine fleece.

Mr. Watson said that Mr. Brown had taken the fleece to Auckland and' won with it there.

Mr. Brown, who was warmly applauded, said he realised what an honour it was to gain this cup, especially as Mr. J. M. Janies, who was also of Wangaehu, had been a previous winner. He had to thank Sir William Perry for a great deal of help. Mr. Brown said he had sent the fleece to Auckland because some people had spoken of his working to standards approved by Sir William Perry, who wa» one of the judges of the local competition. He had therefore sent the fleeeo further afield, with the result stated. Mr. Brown suggested that a short criticism should be attached to each fleece when the competition wool was placed on exhibition and also that a resume of the judge’s ideas on the first prize winning fleece in each class should be sent to the successful competitor. Another suggestion was that it would be of value to the sheep farming publie if cards were prepared with samples of wool running from 36 to 54 count. These eonTd be prepared by Technical School' boys and sold. It was agreed that Mr. Brown’s suggestions were very good ones and might advantageously be adopted.