MILITARY HORSES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2275, 8 October 1914, Page 7

MILITARY HORSES

TO ENCOURAGE THEIR BREEDING A DIFFICULT PROBLEM Tho PRIME MINISTER (Right Horn W. F. Mdssey) moved the second reading of the Remounts Encouragement Bill.. Ho said that .tlio Bill was an outcome of wliat had taken place in the last fow weeks. The Tooent demand for remounts for tho troops hod shown that New Zealand was not strong in tliis class of horse. Ever since tho Boer War there liad been somewhat of a scarcity of good remounts. Tho farmers .had not been encouraged to breed this class of horse, and, of course, Hho motorcar had had an effect on the position. Trotting horses, he said, were not suitable for remounts. If Now Zealand was going to get back to the class of horso wo had hero prior to tho Boer War, we would liave to do something, of tho kind proposed in tho Bill. There was no country in the world in which better artillery and remount horses could bo bred than in-.Now -Zealand.- -There was I. Uβ. doubt that the ec'tamo could be gut

into operation profitably, becauso the British Government would bo sure to bo glad to purchase any horses we had to spare. The country received a good deal of revenue from the totalisator, and ho proposed to set asido from £2000 to £2500 of it for tho purpose of encouraging the breeding of these horses. The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) thought that every member, of the House should support the Bill. The Bill Defective? Mr. G. HUNTER (Waipawa) said that he desired to commend tho action of the Government in bringing down the Bill. Ho believed it to be an honest attempt to deal with a very difficult problem. Never before in the history of this Dominion was there a time when it was more necessary for tho Government .to encourage the- breeding of military horses. But "lie did not think that tho Bill would attain its object. The Bill was not likely to be a workable measure, and was not likely to be taken advantage of to any extent. It was unlikely that it would have the elfect of increasing the production of good remounts. He thought that it would be better if the Government, procured suitable horses, and placed them at the disposal of men who had maree likely to mate with these horses. He boped that the Prime Minister would Dot persevere with the Bill. Hβ suggested that after tho second.reading it should be referred to the Stock Committeo. Mr. T. H. DAVEY (Christehurch East) said that the Bill was too late to be of any use this season. 'Hie Prime Minister: That is so. Mr. Davcy: Would it not be better to hold it over till next year, and have it considered by the agricultural and pastoral societies. The Prime Minister: It has been strongly recommended by tho Board of Agriculture and by the officers of the Agricultural Department. Mr. D. BUICJi (Palmerston North) said that the only way to get remounts was to cross thoroughbreds with purebred draughts. He said that remounts, being crosskreds, really could not be systematically bred, and the best way to get them would be for the officers of the Department to mark any suitable remount horse they saw. The farmer oould have it till it was wanted, but the State should pay for the grazing. . Mr. G. WITTY (lliccarton) said that the Bill was at fault because ifcrdid not make any provision for the mares. Mr. G. V. PEARCE (Patea) thought that tho Bill should be commended if. only becauso it recognised the principle of State encouragement to tho breeding of these horses. He considered the proposals in tfhe Bill good, which would work out very well. ' ■ ■

Other Suggestions. Mr. R. M'OALLUM (Wairau) agreed with Mr. Hunter on the subject. Ho regretted that he could not support the Prime Minister in the proposal. Tho Prime Minister: Vote against it. Mr. M'Callum: "No; I will not, because it is not worth voting against." Mr. M'Callum went on to say that tho name Remounts Encouragement ■ Bill should be Military Horse Improvomont Bill. , Ho would not oppose an expenditure of £20,000 on such a good object, but tho Bill as it was would achieve nothing. It would be far better for the Minister to hold the matter over in order that tihe Bill might bo considered, preferably by a committee of members in tho House, of whom, there were many who knew something about horse breeding. He would suggest that the care of the breeding of light horses ho left to State farms. " ■ Mr. C. K. WILSON (Taumariinui) said that the.Bill was a step in tfhe right direction, though not a very big one. Ho hoped the Government would not revert to the system of lteopin# stallions at State farms. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) said that the Bill should contain some provision, that tho pares in respect of wfoich subsidies might he claimed should be of such a quality as to ensure, the progonj being ot a useful type. There v, as .also danger that subsidies might bo wasted through foale being badly fed in their . youth, and against this line Bill should provide in some way. Some system of registration might be possible. Mr. J. G. COATES (Kaipara) said he hoped the Prime Minister would not withdraw tno Bill, which would certainly do good in the district lie presented.Mr. H. M. CAMPBELL (Hawke'e Bay) said he approved of the idea' of the Bill, but he did not think the Bill would really encourage the breeding of horses. Breeders would have to be as.sured of a market for horses if they were ,to breed them. He would suggest either that the State should undertake to Buy. a certain number of horses every year, or give a bonus for suitable horses, or breed horses on its own account, not at tho State farms, but on cheaper back-country. Possibly, also, an export trade might be developed with England and India. Mr. W. p. S. MACDONALD (Bay of Plenty) said the Bill would do some-; thing towards a very good object, but he thought about the minimum would be done. lie did not think much of the prospect of any big business being done in tho export of horses. Prime Minister in Reply. . The Right Hon. W. F. iVIASSEY said he had submited the Bill to the Board of Agriculture, and to Mr. Reakes, of the Agricultural Department, all gentlemen who knew something about horses. He, too, claimed to know something 'about horses, for he had bred them with some success ever since he had been in business as a farmer. He had bred thoroughbreds which had won races, many Clydesdales which had won prizes, and scores of harness .horses. But when heard tho criticism in the House ho began to doubt whether he knew anything at all about the subject. Many members had lost sight of the fact that the Bill was intended to help the small man, who would breed a few foals from year to year. _ It was not intended to assist the big horsebreeder. The intention of the Government was to draw up regulations to provide for' the' proper selection _of mares to be mated with subsidised horses. If ii should be found that a larger expenditure . was necessary it could be provided for later. ; The present Bill could bo accepted as an experiment. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.