A NOVEL SCHEME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3256, 13 July 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

A NOVEL SCHEME.

(Sydney Morning Herald.) \ CapipjnF. k L. Rotti and Mr Alexander Byrio fiaveli^ an interview: with .the Hon. Coßnkl'Secrfefiiiry'athis office, with the view: of enlisting tho, sympathy of the Government- in-favour -of a - proposed scheme for improving the breed of horses in the Colony. Captain Rossi explained tihe nature of his proposal as follows: —That the Government should get an Act passed imposing a tax of 6s per Head upon all horses, with the exception of geldings. He estimated the number of horses in the. Colony at 280,000, and assumed' that one-half of that number we're females. "On the presumption that the tax would induce owners to slaughter Go,ooo r 80,000 females would be left, and the tax would then yield the Government £20,000 per annum. He considered tlm an extreme position, and thought that there would be a much larger numbW upon which the tax could be imposed. He then suggested that £5000 should be given for. securing the improvement in the breed of horses, by giving the jockey clubs one - half that amount (£2500), and the central and other agricultural societies tho other half —the money to be distributed in prizes and stakes. This suggestion, if carried out, would remove the objections which are often urged in Parliament against the voting of £200 for a Queen's Plate, to be run for at Randwick, as it was thought that sum would not then be required. Tho stakes would in that<s|iiEJ not only be increased, but would conftrout of the pockets of persons interested in encouraging a better breed of horses, instead of out; of tho general revenues of the Colony. The | remaining £15,000, or whatever sum it 1 might be, Captain lloarsi proposed should , be expended in the destruction of wild horses, which are now proving such a nuisance to horse breeders, and do much to damage the horse stock of tho Colony. That there is an immense number of wild horses in New South Wales is shown by the fact that Mr Ryrie, on one of his runs in tho Monara district, • killed no less thnn 1400 in about two yoars and a half. It was also proposed that the machinery in operation for the ooileption of fees on cattle and <sheep should bo used for tho collection of the fees on hprßon'; as this would only entail tho addition of another column on the " return' sheets, whioh have now to be* sent in annually tothe clerksof possessions, ltwas pointed out that whilst tho proposed tax would do much towards improving the horse stock of tho colony,' and thereby insure a large export trade> with India and other countries, and be of great advantage to the .whole community, it would interfere with, none btxt those who wore interested in horse-breeding, Mr Parkes advised Captain Rossi and" Mir'llyrio to put their proposal in writing, and ho promised that if it were done he would bring it under the notice of tho Government. :