SCARCITY OF HORSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 11

SCARCITY OF HORSES.

&N AUSTRALIAN PROBLEM. LACK OF REMOUNTS. [feom ors. ows coitasspoCTOTT.] STDSTCT, Sept. 12. Eecentily an Indian Army officer arrived in Australia -with the object of securing lor his Government a number of military remounts, bat such has been the decline of "the horse in Anstraiia that- be was forced to return disappointed. There -was a time when Anstraiia was able to supply l.Tiia market with the utmost ease, but new the Commonwealth is enable to EH even its own meagre reqnirementa.

Sir Henry Chauvel, IxiEpectar-General of the Commonwealth MSBtatj Forces—-what there is left of the forces—whose distinguished cavalry work was a dramatic ant' dominating feature of the Palestine campaign, says that suitable horses for (he srmy are becoming very scarce in Anstraiia and that the quality- is deteriorating. ' This, in spite of the fact that the great racing clubs are always dwelling on the fact that they are in the turf game with the object of improving the breed—€ha± thpy are performing a service of national importance—a point oft disputed. Anyhow, the inspector-general says that the position is becoming "very serious." But bis is a voice crying in a wilderness, for interest in the military affairs of Australia is at a very low ebb at present. The breeding of light horses has been steadily declining in Australia for several years and fur this mechanical traction is held to bf- responsible: bn± there are other reasons. The tart thai to bread horses does not pay the farmer these days is the main cause. As a business it pays to bread horses for which there is a, good HumriTi;'! at a good price. There is no market for "misfits." The hunter is the class of horse that is most suitable for The araiv reqciroE horses, the in crease in mechanical vehicles notwithstanding. Sir Henry ChauveL, for instance, says that the : Palestine campaign would not have been won without the massed cavalry. Ko the army is still' in need of horses of a certain class and the suggestion, has been made that if Australia will .not eupply the market perhaps New Zealand will. The Australian public has good reason to know the quality of horses that are bred in the Dominion—racehorses at any rate. Australia has been renowned for its horses and those sent to India, for the army have more than held their own with horses man othEr parts of the wwid. The horses that won this name. Were fared on the stations, particularly the -stafciMifl of New: .South Wales and Brisbane.' in those days jhe station owners were keenly interested in the breeding itum-Batae-breeding now appears tobeiti losfc art in many, parts of the Conrrnnnwffßlifih. Altogether Australia has-been; exporting about 5000 horses annually and it is officially stated that if there wens more horses of the right character _ the number ■would be increased. WHI New Zealand the opportunity that is_. presented by Australia s failure to maintain the standard T ,