BACK FROM SIDNEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17466, 28 July 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

BACK FROM SIDNEY.

SHOW AND SHEEP SALES. NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. Mr Donald Grant, of "Elloughton Grange," Timaru, returned by the Maheno from Sydney, where he had been attending the Royal Sheep Show and the sheep sales which are held annually in the same week as the sho w - „ .. . Mr Grant says that both the show and the sales were a decided success, and the attendance at both was very large The quality of the sheep at the show was of a high class, and at the sales there was very keen competition for really good sheep. The entries were confined to sheep from Australia and New Zealand, and it had been stated that his own sheep had travelled the longest distance —about 1200 miles to the show and sale. The Australians liked New Zealand sheep, provided they got the best quality, and he hoped it would be the aim of New Zealand breeders to sec that nothing but the best were sent, lie had this year taken over 28 show sheep (Border Leicester?) and 200 flock ewes and ewe hoggets. With his show sheep he had secured one championship, four first prizes, four seconds, and two thirds. -Mr Grant mentioned that he had got the championship for the best group (three rams and three ewes) — a class which he thought a verv good one, and one which he would like to see included in the prize schedule of the Timaru A. and P. Association. Mr Grant said that he had been able to dispose of all his sheep at very satisfactory prices, there being a keen demand in Australia for sheep that could be depended upon to produce a good lleece and a good lamb. Australia was not now relying so much upon wool as in the past, the fat lamb trade being an important consideration with most sheep fanners. Big estates over there were being steadily subdivided, and it was noticeable that small holdings were now being worked very much on the same lines as those in New Zealand, wheat, wool, and meat being the principal productions from such holdings.

Stud Sheep for Export. Mr Grant mentioned that last year when he returned from the Sydney sheep sales he had brought back with him a two-shear ewe he wanted 50 taken over. Last year he wanted 50 guineas for it, but could not find a buyer fit that price. He had taken this vame ewe back with him this year, and she had been made Grand Champion at- the Royal Show, after which sl/e sold readily at 75 guineas. Asked what prospects there were ahead of New Zealand in the matter of rearing stud sheep for export, Mr Grant said that the outlook was very bright. Not only would Australia readily take the best that could be bred here, but there were markets also in North and" South America. He had heard it said, though he would not say positively that it was strictly accurate, that as good sheep could be bred in New Zealand "as could be bred at Home. If this were not strictly correct it was not far short of the mark. And so long as foot and mouth disease existed at Home Australia would get no sheep from that source. The point was stressed that in exporting stud sheep the greatest care must be taken to see that only the best were sent. It had been proposed to put a tax of £2 2s per head on unregistered sheep which were intended for export—sheep which had not been passed by tho inspector and marked on their arrival in Australia. This mutter, said Mr Grant, would probably in; discussed at the next meeting of the Sheep Breeders' Association, in Christchurch; something must be done, and he considered (hat the suggested tax would have the desired result, as it would not pay breeders to put the lax on "dud" sheep. Before leaving Australia on his return to New Zealand he had discussed (his matter with the secretary to the New South Wales Longwool Breeders' Association, and it seemed to him that Australia was prepared to be very fair and reasonable concerning it. It should now be taken up in New Zealand. Justification for Complaint.

He noticed by the newspapers that complaint had been made regarding the quality of longwool sheep sent frem New Zealand to Australia, and lie could not help admitting that there was some justification for the complaint. A large proportion of the sheep sent over to Australia from New Zealand to the sales were not up to standard, and it would be in the interests of breeders, botli in Australia and in New Zealand, if the £2 2s tax were imposed, so as to ensure only the best being sent. Australia could beat New Zealand in merino sheep, for which that country was specially adapted, but could not equal New Zealand in some of the other breeds, such, for instance, as Border Leicestcrs and Corriedales. In conclusion, Mr Grant mentioned that prospects in Australia for the ensuing year were particularly bright. Enormous areas had been sown in wheat, and these were looking very well when ho was over there. The wheat was just coming into ear when he came away. The crops looked particularly healthy; there had been abundance of rain, and so far as he could se there was no fly in the ointment anywhere. Then, too, the lambing was in full swing, and the indications were for a big lambing and a bumper wheat harvest. As evidence of the way in which big stations were being cut up in Aus-

tralia Mr Grant said that there had been one big station advertised, which had been in the hands of one family for 120 years. Other big stations which were being sold were changing ownership for the first time in 50, 60 and up to 90 years.