Horse Breeding.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6698, 16 October 1905, Page 4

Horse Breeding.

AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE,

The co n for en on of expert?, convened by the New South Wales Government and the Sydney li..yal Agricultural Society, to conRider the Kifitt.er of improving the breed of liorfos in Australia, was hold at Sydney on the 9fch inpfc. There iveie about fifty delegates present.. Sir Fruncia Suttor, who presided, faid he qui'ttion whtther Australian horses hud tipterior'ated or riot could bo put aside. Thero was any airountof r<-oni fvr improvement. Ho referred to (he work of the premium horF63 in England, and- fchowed that Fniricf,- Germany, Austra, and Hungary were all spending large suma to improve their horses* In Au^tralU it way not so much a quoFtion of assisting large breeders to improve their studs as of encouraging (he breeding of better horses by persons who were not in a position to employ first class stallions. There wore in New South Wales 808 stallions standing for service, including 403 thoroughbreds, 13 coach horses, 206 draughts, 16 hacks, 6 hunter?, 83 ponies, and 81 trotters. 'I he following resolutions were passed:— "That it is desirable that the Indian and Imperial Government should establish official agencies in New South Wales, with a view to purchasing direct from horse breeders. " That nn annual tax be placed on all stallions of three years and upwards, and the amount so raised be applied to subsidising Btallion3 for public service, provided that stallions under three years that are not serving mares shall be exempted. " That, in the opinion of this Conference, there should be a competent board for the purpose of inspecting stallions for public service, and for the issuing of certificates for approved stallions. "/That the Government be requs6ted to give premiums to suitable scallions placed at the gervice of the public at aj reasonable fee. " That, in tha opinion of this Conference, the police and other Government departments should pnrohase mares, all things being equal, and that such mares, after being in use for a term of years, be disposed of by auction in this State." A board of advice was appointed, to assist the Government ia giving effect to the resolution of the Conference. A resolution was passed asking the Government to impress upon tha attention o° the Imperial Government and the Indian remount authorities the lowness of the prices being offered for remounts, and to request consideration of the question of increasing them. Speaking to a deputation, the Victorian Minister of Agriculture seated that the Government intended to spend £5000 in encouraging horse breeding for export. The State had enough sire 3of all descriptions. All they required to do was to devise a means of subsidising private owners, Mr W. Little, M.L.C., said that if horse 3 could only be standard bred, it would be an immense advantage. The standards of Indian remount officers changed frequently. Also, if from .£3O to .£4O could be obtained, it would pay to breed good horses, but if only £12 to >Siß was obtainable, land owners would turn their attention to something more profitable. If a standard were fixed for ten yeirs, and a price of from .£3O to £40 were obtainable for remounts, the right class of horse 3 would be forthcoming.