CALL OF HUNT CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 23 April 1913, Page 10

CALL OF HUNT CLUBS.

FOR STATE AID. MOTOR COMING: HORSE GOING. (By Telegraph.—Sreeial CorrceDond/mt.) Marlon, April 22. The question of hunt clubs being subsidised by tlia State was discussed at the annual meeting of the Pangitikci Ilunt Ciub. when a letter was received from t'le secretary of the (!ta.;.> Hunt showing thai, Ihoagn tin; iiacing Conference had f.'Otni'tiuT.d.d that ail racing clubs dialed to tho ir.:! iii' the totalisattir should .- i.r.ribiito to iinut lunds, only It racing had responded to the extent of .£B2O. Mi' this amount .itSO was given by the I'.J.C. io tlio four Canterbury hunts. This question, it h:'.s e.'niendcd, should be !"o!;ul into by the Hunts' Association. Vi.e totaiisator investments for the Doij'U'U from 5. 15112, to April 2, an'.ouatcit '.a J.;.S;tl,ot'j, showing an iucve-.ise «f .tiir.'),':'.'! <:>-cr Ihe same period •>? the previous It was estimated thai !!•.'•» :-'.'.ir i'iie t.ioverr,;nent would receive es re\en'je from tho racing clubs. J'an.'iiikci's assistance and cootieratios wv.s asked with regard to furthering the movement. Sir. ,T. 0, Wilson (president of tho New Zee.land Farmers' Union}, who is also president of the local lusnt Club, had some interesting tilings to say concerning tlio future breeding of horses, and iho expressed the opinion that if the House aijain considered tha ciuestion the hunt clubs would gel: special recognition. "The reason for this," be said,, "is an obvious and important one. Motor-cars and cycles are becoming so common-that tlio. number of horses bred must ill a fewyears be re:;need by 50 per cent. .There will lie so little ile.'nand for these bred that there v.ill be no inducement to good sires, and I' ll . l -, pr:ee of thoroughbreds viil be affccicd. It is a fact that, already, tliey are alf-rsted ill the Dominion, and young stock am; breod mares

are sent over'from hor& to Sydney to find a market. This was so rceeguised that tile Kacing Conference vc<v>n.'.:;cndod that nil racing 1 clubs should contribute to tlie funds of hunt flubs. Last year this recommendation was given effect to the extent of .4820, the C..1.C. giving .£iCO of this. This question of hunt eiubs is ge:--crallv looked upon by tlio public e.s Hie sport of the well-to-do, and it is considered that thev should pay for their sport. I think, that none of ns grudge, what wo do spend, for excellent spurt and good fellowship is the result, but f!:.o question lias a far wider bearing than mere sport: it inav in fact heWiid to he' an Imperial question. It is certain that, even in tho war of the future, wheie rKrships and air-motors.will play a very imiwrtantpart in reconnoitring, that mounted forces will be necessary, and horses will lie absolutely necessary. No spceies of sport .'equals hunting to'encourage the breedingxof good horses. Higher prices aro given ' to-day for good hunters than over before, and , they are more and more difficult to procure. If the country is wise it will assist hunt clubs in samo way eo as to encourage breeding. After a good deal of discussion it was eventually resolved: "That the Eangitikei Hunt Club considered it inadvisable to apply for the .subsidy o? I'ieO to each hunt club because it v,o"i-.l not work <iqnally iu cases where clubs were wealthier tiia'n others, and, failing to obtain permits for totalisator lr.eetings, the hunt clubs should approach tho Now Zealand Pacing Conference with a view to regulations being enforced compelling clubs to subsidise the hunt clubs located in their racing districts." •