Horses for the Army.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 3 November 1917, Page 1

Horses for the Army.

A QUESTION" IN" PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Kepresentatives, Mr Colvin (on behalf of Mr T. E. T. Beddon, member for Westland) asked I whether the Minister of Agriculture knew that from the horses in the Army (those being used by the <N«w Zealand Expeditionary Force included) mares suitable for breeding had been picked out with a view to sending them to England; and whether some schome of keeping valuable blood stock replenished in New Zealand had boen decided on by the Government to take effect immediately or at the end of the war? The Hon. Mr Mac Donald (Minister of Agriculture) replied: The Government is not aware of the fact stated, but it is satisfactory to know that good New Zealand mares are to be utilised in England for breeding purposes. In purchasing remounts for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, the purchasing officers were specially instructed that good mares, suitable for breeding purposes, were not to be taken, unless under special circumstances. It was, however, found that a large number of good marcs were offered for sale, their owners having no intention of breeding from them, and consequently a limited number were allowed to be purchased, but every precaution was taken to ensure the retention in the Dominion of the great majority of the best type mares.