TROOP HORSES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2249, 8 September 1914, Page 8

TROOP HORSES

A DEFICIENCY'-AND A NECESSITY Mr. J. ■G. Wilson, Bulls, writes a« under:—"iho war has brought one thing forcibly before us, and that is that it would bo difficult to get suflicieut horses now for any considerable number ol mounted troops in New Zealand. 1 ask for space, therefor, in your columns to put before the public the necessity of encouraging the breeding of such animals.' Most peoplo who have to- travel along roads no-.v either use a push-bike, a motor-bike, or motor-car. There has been no need of horses, therefore, during the last year or two for that purpose. Thus farmers have given over breeding anything in the shape of a hack or Harness horse, except milk-carters. These may do for artillery horsos, but would be useless lor mounted infantry. The few men who breed horses nowadays do so because they are fond of animals,or require them on hill farms for rimstering purposes. In the first of those classes is tho hunting man. He loves a food horse, and tries to breed and scliool them himself. A good many of them are misfits; but these make the most suitable horses for mounted • infantry. It will pay tho country, therefore, x to support hunting and encourage it. Instead of this, the Parliament of Neiv Zealand distinctly discouragod it by taking away the licenses from hunt meetings to use the totalisator, and practically shut down these meetings altogether. These meetings ought to bo iestored if,wo wish to encourage the right stamp of horse to be bred for Imperial purposes. Parliament, which abolished these truly sporting meotings, can, by. passing Sir. Hunter's Bill, enable us to start them again with every prospect of success. If wo hadn't horseracing we should have no' thoroughbreds: if we hadn't thoroughbreds we should have no hunters; if we liavn't hunters we' shall havo no horses to mount our troops. Therefore, the Government would bo doing a wise thing in helping to pass tho Bill, which would resuscitate hunt club meetings. I know many consider horso racing should bo' stopped, bub I think it would bo one of the greatest misfortunes that ever occurred. to the Dominion if it was abolished. Many thoroughly enjoy the day's.outing,'and it is a benefit to health. There may bo a few rogues connected with racing, but there are' fewer to-day than ever before in New Zealand; but they are always with us in any case. AVffpn the deficiency is so marked and tlfc necessity so great, such a measure should not be a controversial one if it is to help to attain the desired end."