HORSE-BREEDING REVIVAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22376, 13 April 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

HORSE-BREEDING REVIVAL

ENCOURAGEMENT OFFERED BY GOVERNMENT

OLD LEGISLATION TO BE MADE OPERATIVE

Mill 4MOCUTIOS rXLSOBAIfJ

AUCKLAND, April 12.

The opinion that the revival of the Remounts Encouragement Act should largely increase the breeding a good stamp of horse in the Dominion, was expressed by the Minister for .nternal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry}. The act. which had lain dormant on the Statute Book since 1914. was being administered by - the Department of Agriculture, with the help of the New Zealand Racing Conference, he said, ana already some important steps had bean taken in the procedure laid down io.- the active operation of the act. “It is a mistake,” he said, “to let the breeding of good backs and farm horses reach a low standard. The everincreasing introduction of machinery on farms and roads has produced a lessening of interest in the horse. It is a pity. There was a time when on a visit to any well-equipped farm one would almost inevitably be invited to come and see the horses, and fine animals they were, too. ‘ “To-day, unhappily, there are not horses to see on many of the farms. The Government has placed £IOOO on the Estimates of last session for the working of the act for the ostensible encouragement of the breeding of horses, and the. amount was subsidised by racing clubs through the New Zealand Racing Conference. Wide interest was expected to be provoked by the scheme to the advantage of farmers.”

Mr Parry praised farmers who owned horses which contested events at local race meetings. The number was increasing, and it was good to see that there were now more New Zealand farmers than in recent years breeding a fine type of mount which they could race at such meetings. This pleasant feature had been noticeable at the recent Paeroa meeting.