AN AUSTRALIAN PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 8

AN AUSTRALIAN PROBLEM

INDIA LOOKING FOR HORSES. v SYDNEY, Sept. 12. Recently an Indian Army officer arrived in Australia with the object of securing for his Government a number of military remounts, but such has been the decline of the horses in Australia that he was forced to return disappointed. There was a time when Australia was able to supply this market with tho utmost ease, but now the Commonwealth is unable to fulfil .even is own meagre requirements. Sir Hesnrv Chauvel, InspectorGeneral of the Commonwealth Military Forces—what there is left of tho Forces—whose distinguished cavalry work was a. dramatic and dominating feature of tho Palestine campaign says that suitable horses for the Army are becoming very scarce in Australia, and that'the quality is deteriorating. This despite the fact that the great racing clubs are always dwelling oh the fact that they are in the Turf game with the object of improving the breed—that they are performing a service of national importance—a point oft disputed. Anyhow the In-spector-General saj s , that the position is becoming “very serious.” But his is a voice crying in a wilderness, for interest in the military affairs of Australia is. at a very low ebb at present'.

The breeding of light horses has been steadily declining in Australia for several years, and for tnis mechanical traction is held to he responsible; but there are oilier reasons. The fact that to breed horses does not pay the farmer these days is the main cause. As business it pays to breed horses for which there is a good demand at a good price. There is no market for “misfits.” , The hunter is the class of horse that is most suitable for the cavalry. The Army requires horses, the increase in mechanical vehicles notwithstanding. Sir Henry Chauvel, for instance, says that the Palestine .campaign would not have been won without the massed cavalry. So. the Army is still in need of horses of a certain class, and the suggestion has been made that if Australia' will not supply the market perhaps New Zealand will. The Australian public has good reason to know the quality of horses tnat are bred in the Dominion —racehorses at any rate. p Australia lias been renowned for its horses, and those , sent to India for the Army have more than held their own with horses from other parts of the world. The horses that _ won this namo ' were bredi on the-stations, particularly the stations of New South Wales and Brisbane. In those days the station owners were keenly interested in the breeding ■ of horses. Horse-breeding- .now appears to be a lost art in many parts of the- Commonwealth. Altogether Australia has been exporting about 5000 horses annually; and it is officially stated that if there were more Horses of the right character, the .number would be increased. Will New Zealand grasp the opportunity that is presented by Australia’s failure to maintain the standard? ' ' ; •