LINCOLN SHEEP BREEDERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9704, 8 November 1909, Page 4

LINCOLN SHEEP BREEDERS.

AN ASSOCIATION FORMED. A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. One of the most important events at the recent Palmerston Show was a meeting of those interested in the formation of a Lincolu Sheep-breeders' Association. The meeting was well attended, and it was characteristic in so far as it was representative of breeders from practically all parts of the Dominion, who were unanimously in favour of forming the proposed Association. Time was when the New Zealand Sheep-breeders' Association sufficiently met the requirements of breeders of the various classes of sheep. That time has passed, however, not on account of any shortcomings on the part of the members of the Association, but rather because in the stress of competition it has been found necessary to specialise, and breeders arc beginning to recognise that their interests are best served by forming a separate governing body for each particular breed. It was this, mainly, which some years ago caused the Romuey breeders to secede from the Association, aud it will be readily admitted that the step has been fully justified by the results. The question of forming a Liucoln Sheepbreeders" Association has been uuder the consideration of breeders in Wairarapa for some considerable time. Messrs W. Perry, D. McGregor, junr., Bland Rayner and others have been keenly interested, and at their instigation circulars to the number of one hundred aud eighteen were sent to various breeders in the Dominion. The result was eminently satisfactory. Although the time was sorae'what short, sixty-six replies were received in favour of a Lincoln Breeders , Association, while only two of the replies were antagonistic. It Is to be remembered, of course, that' there are still a number of replies to come in, and the majority of these are almost certain to be of an encouraging nature. Under the circumstances, it was'unanimously decided to form the proposed Association, and Messrs W. H. Wybourue, W. Perry, Bland Rayner and D. McGregor, junr., were appointed a committee to draft rules; while Mr G. R. Sykes was appointed secretary. The rules will be submitted for adoption at a general meeting co be held at Palmerston North during the next Wiuter Show, and no doubt it will be found in the meantime the membership will have materially increased, and the Association strengthened to such an extent that it will eventually become one of the strongest and most important in New Zealand. ;