FEW UTILITY HORSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 147, 9 July 1937, Page 9

FEW UTILITY HORSES

-Own Corresnondont.)

Need to Arouse Interest in Breeding ESSENTIAL FOR DEFENCE

iBv Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, This Day. Goncern at the shortage of utility horses suitable for military purposes is expressed by Mr J. S. McLeod in his annual report presented to the New Zealand Racing Conference to-day. A pressing need, he said, existed for taking immediate steps to encourage horse breeding in the Dominion, par.darly in regard to certain types, gcnerally known as the "utility" horse, such as hunters, ponies, station haeks, polo ponies, half-draughts, and all horses that might be used for military purposes. Thanks to the enterprise of studmasters the Thoroughbred nad Clydesdale breeds had been maintained at a high standard of quality, though the high values ruling, and the strong demand for draught horses, whether fullj half, or three-quarter, indicated some degree of shortage. The Hunters' Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Soeiety, which had been in existence in England since 1885, was established to improve and promote the breeding of hunters and other horses used for riding or driving, and for military purposes. At the annual general meeting of the members of that soeiety held in March last it was reported that the War Office had again renewed its grant of '£4500, while the Racecourse Betting Control Board had increased its grant from £5000 to £6000 per annum, for the purpose of providing premiums for thoroughbred stallions. The society decided to increaso the value of each stallion premium from £125 to £150, and consequently was able to offer 60 premiums in England and Wales. Fourteen special premiums of £50 each (making an inelusive premium of £200) were also to be awarded. The society Telied upon voluntary subscriptions to carry on the national character of its wonderful work in encouraging the breeding of hunters, and other horses for riding or driving and for military purposes. "We have asked the Royal Agricultural Society, New Zealand hunts, polo, and veterinary associations, " said Mr. McLeod, "tp join with us in our endeavour to impress upon the Government the urgent need for encouraging the breeding of the utility horse in this Dominion. At a later stage of the proceedings of this conference you will be asked to support a resolution, submitted by the executive committee, which contrives to provide for country picnic races for horses owned, trained, and ridden by amatours, without their having to be registered under the Rules of Raeing, in order to take part in these picnic races. This proposal will serve a twofold purpose in paving the way for recreation for the country dwellers, their families, and friends, and will at the same time arouse their interest in the breeding of utility horses, which is so important for the well being of this Dominion. "I tremble to think of what would bo the state of affairs in this country if our oil and petrol supplies were suddenly cut off. The shortage of ntility horses for transport and other purposes, caused largely by this country being draiued of its best half-bred, and other serviceable horses, during the South African and the Grcat Wars, is so serious, that a strong lead requires to be given so that we can be ready to meet future happenings with some degree of equanimity. "The disposition of this conference will be to appreciate the action of the Dominion 's representatives at the Imperial Conference in stating they are prepared to support at any cost the attitude taken by Hi's Majesty's advisers in defence of the British Empire. It is indeed gratifying that our Prime Minister endorses this Empirq attitude. This conference supports the breeding of utility horses as an essential in the mobility of the defence of uor country."