HORSE-BREEDING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 13

HORSE-BREEDING

OPERATION OF SCHEME

"It gives me very great pleasure to. report that the Government has gazetted regulations under the Remaunt. Encouragement Act, 19-14, in order to bring into operation the scheme for subsidising stallions, with the idea of encouraging horse-breeding in' this Dominion," stated the president (Mr. J. S. MeLeod), in the course of his report presented at today's annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Racing, Conference^

"We owe a debt of gratitude-to Lieut.Colonel D. R. Hewitt who, "when on a visit to New Zealand In. 2936, aroused us to the urgency of initiating the stallion subsidy into- immediate operation on the same lines as the Hunters' Improvement Societies scheme in England. t Lieut-Coloae! Hewitt joined in a deputation in July* 1936, to the Government consisting of representatives of the New Zealand Hunts' and Polo Associations, Royal Agricultural Society, and this conference, and as a result of his enthusiasm, and the representations, then made, combined with the interest taken in the scheme by the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal. Affairs, and the Hon.. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, the Government decided to place £1000 on the estimates for the then financial year.

x "The New Zealand: Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference agreed to support the scheme, and this year the. clubs under the jurisdiction of both conferences have donated Is in the £ out of the 1 per cent, refund of totalisator duty allowed to them by the Government. It is understood that the Government proposes to place on the estimates this year the maximum, sum of £4000 allowed under the Act for subsidising stallions.

"A committee consisting of representatives of the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences, New Zealand Hunts.' and Polo Associations, the Royal Agricultural Society,, acting in conjunction with representatives from the Departments of Agriculture and Internal Affairs, has been appointed to act in a national advisory capacity in connection with the scheme. MajorGeneral R. Young was appointed to, organise the various district remount committees, and he commenced his work in this respect only a few weeks ago.

"The success of the scheme depends to a great extent on the voluntary services of those men who will be appointed to the various district remount committees, and I am sure we can look to these enthusiasts with the greatest confidence that they will do their utmost to ensure the success of this national safdty scheme. I feel confident, that the effect of the scheme will have far-reaching beneficial results in arresting-the depletion of our stock of, utility horses, and, with the consequential improvement in that class of animal, greater interest will arise in the competitions provided for horses and riders by A. and P. Societies Snd, hunt clubs^

"The scheme in itself is a very valuable aid to the Government's Physical and Welfare Act as it will supply the country with horses at » a more moderate cost, which will encourage the people to go in more for riding, which is one of the healthiest of exercises, besides providing recreation for young and old in the country, and it is. hoped will assist in arresting the drift from the country to the towns."