HORSES FOR INDIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1791, 16 March 1888, Page 2

HORSES FOR INDIA.

(" Wanganui Herald ") The Goverament has received a communication from the Indian Governmeut respecting the supply of horses suitable for military purposes, and Mr Munro, Shaop Inspector, has received, along with others, instructions to make enquiries on the subject, The matter is one of great importance to tho farming community, and requires to be thoroughl) considered by the Government before giving a reply. For some time horaes of a certain stamp have beeu purchased by dealers for the Indian market, and no doubt the specimens we have bsen able to eend have attracted the attention of the Indian authorities to New Zealand aa a breeding ground equal, if not superior, to any other country. The kinds oE horaes w demand are, first of all, large hersea for heavy artillery, commiaariat, &c ; noxt, horses of a shade lighter stamp, but Btrong and ac:ive for fie'd artillery ; next tho cavalry horso, which is a shade lighter still. There is farther a demand m India for carriage horses, ladies' hacks, and hunters It has been intimated, we understand, that the Indian Government could take from New Zealand alone 2000 horses a year for ten yaars, which, at £20 a horse, would mean a nice little sum of £40,000 a year coming into the colony, of whloh'the West Coast portiou ought to be considerable. If the Government of India o:uld guarantee to take 2000 horaes a year of the right stamp at an average, cay, of £20, the number required would be forthcoming. Of course the fact that there is a demand for a certain class of horae will tend to stimulate tho production, but unless the farmer can depend on a steady matket the supply will be desultory and uncertain, The age at whioh the horses will be bought will be four, and if the deraa&d la urgent it may ojme down to three When a farmer, therefore, has to look forward for four or five yearn for his return, and to change the character of his establishment m order to obtain it, he has a right to expeot some degree of security that the market will exist at the time his stock is ready. We have, however, repeatedly urged on general grounds that It would pay the farmer better to breed the particular kind of horse which the military foroea of India require, than even the Clydesdales, which have been so fashionable as draught horses. The heavy artillery horse is not a Clydesdale, but is not far behind him m strength, while his agility of movement approaches vhat of the carriage horse. But we cannot hope to find a general movement In this direction unless a guarantee is given Why should a guarantee not be give 1 The Indian authorities require a certain article which we can produce and will produce if It pays our farmers to do bo. The contract is one, therefore, of mutual advantage, and its terms could easily be arranged by the two Governments. In tha meantime it is just as cheop to breed a good horae as a bad one, and the farmers need not wait for the completion of negotiations, but— rolyiug on the fact that the Millenium will not come m their time, and that armies will have cavalry and artillery and stores m greater numbers and quantity than ever — prepare to meet the demand, which must continue to increase.