DECLINE OF HORSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 14, 9 February 1942, Page 5

DECLINE OF HORSE

PEAK REACHED IN 1911 IN CONTEST AGAINST MODERN CARS Figures published in the New Zealand Year Book tell an interesting story of the rise and decline of the horse population of the country. In JB9l the number of horses of all breeds in New Zealand was 211.040. At that time there were, of course, no motor cars in the country. The first did not appear on the roads until the early years of the present ccntury. The new means of transport made little progress at first. It was regarded as a fad, and for decade at least the horse more than held its own. This is proved by the fact that the horse population of New Zealand steadily increased until 1911, when it was 404.2'84, nearlj' double the total of 1891. The year 1911 was the peak. Thereafter, the horse began to lose ground in competition with the motor, slowly at first, but more rapidly as the use of the newer form of transport widened from pleasure to business. By 191G the number of horses in New Zealand had declined to 371,331, by 1921 to 337,259, and by 1926 to 314,867. Ten years later the number of horses in New Zealand was 263,156 and the latest return • (for 1940) showed the number to be only 258,567. This last, figure is smaller than the return for 1901 (266,725), in spite, of the growth in New Zealand's population and industries during those 40 years.