THE HORSE-BREEDING CONFERENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 14 March 1914, Page 10

THE HORSE-BREEDING CONFERENCE.

The committoos of the New South j Wales agricultural societies are entering into arrangements for a conference in Sydney at Easter on the stallion question very warmly. It is very probable that a large majority of the soci- J eties will be represented. Meanwhile the matter has attracted a great deal of attention, and several thoughtfully written letters have appeared in the newspapers, setting forth views which are held in the country districts. There is the usual disposition to quote special iiiistances as guides to the action which should be taken by the Government. Most of the correspondents have given prominence to the necessity for submitting stallions for examinations to a board not wholly composed of Government officials. The Government veterinarians now hold power to reject horses which are not, in their opinion, true bred or which are not up to a fair standard as possible sires. Horsemen, however, are not satisfied that this important duty is satisfactorily carried out by the officials. They are willing to concede that in respect to soundness the veterinary verdict is generally reliable, but it is pretty certain that they will demand that breeders and owners shall be represented by some of their own class when it comes to | breeding points and standard. No doubt says a Sydney writer, the conference will be told of cases in which horses which have been refused certificates have produced sound, valuable stock. This is where the individual instance is sure to come into the discussion, and no doubt the delegates will see thot their recommendation to the Government must be on broad lines. There should be no difficulty in carrying a resolution asking that uncertificated stallions shall be prohibited. The trouble will be with the means of carrying out the intentions of the people interested.