17
April 1986
Dear
Mr Plant,
Your
letter of April 4, 1986 arrived and was greatly appreciated. My wife, Pat,
commented on your fine writing and I know she appreciated your remarks about
Frank Gary’s attention to detail.
I
expect that there will be a flurry of efforts to alter the Bantam Standard
since Frank is gone. He always resisted that tendency in some who want to
combine the Shape of Male and Shape of Female. I see by the latest Quarterly
that the Cornish breeders are at it. Naturally I intend to write to the ABA in
my effort to preserve the fashion that Frank found good. I guess I’ve become
a self-appointed guardian.
I’m
mindful of the troubles you have had in Australia in the absence of a national
organization. My comment follows the line that Frank used when he advised
you to publish without seeking wide concurrence. Why not start an
organization? In my reviews to write the history and development of the ABA, I
have found that it sterns from a group of 14 who first tried to stay within
the parent APA but later found
no satisfaction and went separately. I would doubt that anyone would object to
your using the constitution and by-laws altered to fit your land. Frank always
told me that the important elements were to recognize the rights of the
members to comment and act, the need for the Board of Directors to conduct
business openly (his numbered proposals) and to pay attention to the making
known the winners at the shows, particularly the big ones. Sure there were
other things. But the effect is obvious in the ABA
Quarterly in the From the
mailbag column and in Fred Jeffrey’s starred tins and master
breeders listing. Frank might have said "Do it, forthwith!"
I
got a letter a couple of weeks ago, I’ll not say from whom, but he related
how he had attempted to find a detail in the APA
Standard which took him ten minutes: his check against the ABA
Standard took him thirty seconds to locate. Frank loved his system and
believed it only common sense for everyone else to do so.
Have
fun down under and enjoy the winter approaching. I’m looking forward to the
sun and summer!
Sincerely,