"TAKING BIG CHANCES”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 173, 18 April 1921, Page 9

"TAKING BIG CHANCES”

DECLINE OF HORSE-BREEDING

NO PROVISION FOR NATIONALEMERGENCY

EXPERT RECOMMENDS MULES

The present has been aptly described as the motor age, and doubtless this is one reason why the horse-breeding industry in the Dominion has declined, but that the day of the horse has by no means passed is the opinion of those intimately associated with New Zealand live stock. By pursuing her present policy of drift in equine matters, the Dominion is, it is averred in some quarters, only courting ultimate disaster. “We are taking big chances,” remarked one authority to a Dominion reporter yesterday, “in allowing our horse-breed-ing to deteriorate to the extent it has done in recent years, and unless matters are remedied we will —in the event of any extraordinary emergency —find ourselves at the mercy of outside countries when it comes to replenishing our supply of horses.” Should Petrol Supplies Fall.

New Zealand is leaning more and more every day on motor traction for transportation services auxiliary to tire arterial railroads. Benzine is the life-blood of the Dominion motor traffic, and there is no guarantee that in times ot stress overseas our supplies of this essential fuel may not be suddenly cut off. America is our main source of supply. She is a long way off, and if she ever finds '‘herself at war it is not likely that.she would exercise herself over the problem of maintaining New Zealand benzine sup pl This, it. is held, emphasises the necessity for ensuring from within the Dominion itself sufficient supplies of houses for agricultural, transportation, and defcce purposes, in order to tide over a-- mergency. Should New Zealand eve. find herself attacked by an enemy, one of the first essentials to a successful defence of our shores and lines of internal communication would be Ihcalitiws for rapid mobilisation. and transportation of men, material, and supplies from one point to another in districts not served by arterial railroads. For this purpose horses would be required for use as remounts and flying transport columns in unroaded country and in rough' and mountainous sectors. Motor traction could be relied upon up to a certain point, always provided sufficient importation of benzine was assured. Views of Live Stock Director. Colonel Young, Director of tho Live Stock Division of the Agricultural Department, gave an interesting interview to a Dominion rejwrter on the subject. Dealing first of all with the question of remounts, he stated that the question of breeding these as a commercial proposition was one which required to 'be approached in a very cautious manner before a reliable opinion could be offered, conditions having greatly altered during the past few years. The price of land had gone up out of all proportion to the value of horses, which remained practically stationary, and many of what might be termed side-lin< s of sales had disappeared or were fast diminishing. At one time a successful breeder could always rely upon breeding some animals which would find a ready market, such as a well-matched pair for professional, commercial, or private use; a good buggy pair or gig horse; and even his blemished animals would sell as packers, hacks, or coach horses. Motor traction, however, had come to stay, and although we all regretted to see our old friend the horse replaced, we could not get away from the fact that men were placing more value upon their time, so that outlets in the direction of securing fancy prices for something good in horses were constantly growing less, and unfortunately these outlets were of considerable importance. Breeding Remounts. What the future demands for remounts would be, he continued, could not be stated, further than it would appear that horses would remain upon the establishments of most armies, and the solution of the problem for securing a steady supply of remounts appeared to be solely in the hands of the military.authorities. In regard to inducements which they might be prepared to offer for the breeding of remounts, no doubt some system would be adopted containing conditions near to the following suggestions:— “Hacks rising 5 years old, 14.2-15.2 hands high, of good sound colours, bay, brown, black, chestnut, or iron grey, and able to carry up to 18 stone. (White or washy colours may be debarred.) The constitution good, the conformation satisfactory, and a veterinary exaniinaation to pass at least as practically sound. Good paces are essential. Sluggish, vicious, or animals which pull back when tied up are seriously objected to. A proportion of backs upon the heavy side would do for artillery rides if broken to harness. Horses for artillery purposes. 5 years old, 14.2 to 15.3 hands high, practically sound, active game, and good paces, colours same as for hacks, but in the case of artillery not only is it desirable to match the teams for colour, but it is of the utmost importance to match in paces at the walk and trot, otherwise a slow .animal would spoil the work of a whole team.” Even in Times of Peace. Colonel Young added that some very useful artillery horses had been secured out of a light draught mare by a thoroughbred sire, and also out of a thoroughbred mare of some substance by a trotting or hackney sire. A fair amount of .strength and staying power was required for this work. Most of the artillery horses 'bought during the last war had previously been used as milk carters, vanners, or ploughcrs upon light, lands. He trusted that in a country like New Zealand, where the fuel supply for motor traction might be suddenly cut off, the subject of breeding remounts would not be lost sight of even in times of pqace. The breeding of draughts and halfdraughts migh well be encouraged, as they were not likely to be so easily displaced by motor traction to any serious extent, lit least for many years to come, •uid those who were still continuing to breed might, look forward to a fair remunerative price in the future. Case for the Mules. Interesting references were made by the Director to mule breeding, which branch of industry had never, he pointed out, been seriously considered u ■* Zealand, yet the experiences of the Great War went to prove, that mules in many cises showed that they were superior to horses for special purposes. Their freedom from disease and internal tr.nl'cs was a great, factor where transport had tn run with clock-like regularity I hey could go for a long period unshod, and were not at all particular as to the (innlitv of Iho t'« (), l supplied. and showed over and over again that they were capable of living and performing good work under conditions which, if applied to horses, the latter would starve. Many parts of New Zealand would be, he stated, ideal country for the breeding of mules, and they would be found very useful for small holdings or orchard work, and for light transport they possessed many advantages being fairly fast, and on hilly or rocky country they were reliable. A New Zealand Prejudice. Following on Colonel Young’s remarks, it is interesting to note that.the value■ of mules lias long been recognised in the United States .and Canada, in which country they are extensively „n forms and construction work. They are tougher than horses, and. contrary

to the belief held by many, they are very docile, but quick to acquire bad habits under careless management. In New Zealand there seems to be a prejudice against mules, but experts consider that this would disappear once the farmers and public generally were familiarised with them. At present they are practically an unknown quantity. By dint of proper crossing, a. heavy, rangy, type of mules —such as are bred in some parts of America and in Cape Colonyare easily procured, <and they are capable of performing very heavy work. Mules standing 17 hands are not freaks —they are quite common in. some countries.