STALLIONS BILL PASSED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 12

STALLIONS BILL PASSED

NO OPPOSITION TO MEASURE LICENSING OF HEAVY ' BREEDS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 14. There was no opposition to the Stallions Bill, when it was put through all stages and passed in the House of Representatives to-night. The opinion expressed by the members who spoke was that the bill might well have been introduced years- ago. Speaking on the motion for the committal of the bill, the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) said that the object of the measure was to-bring about an improvement in the standard of heavy-grade stallions by means of a system of licensing to ensure soundness. The provisions did not apply to any trotting or racing stallions, any other light breed stallions, or to stallions more than two years old on July 31, 1939. Stallions used by an owner for the service of his own mares would also be exempt. The bill was strongly supported by the Clydesdale Society. “A great many of the leading stud breeders will welcome this bill,” said Mr H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton). “It should have been on the Statute Book 25 or 30 years ago, and has been operating in Australia for the last 30 years. It really means that the voluntary system of licensing that has been carried on by the Clydesdale Society is now being made compulsory, and I hope it will be only a matter of time When the thoroughbred owners will have the same system." The bill was passed with little further discussion.