ARMY HORSES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1163, 2 November 1917, Page 5

ARMY HORSES.

RETAINING BREEDING MARES. In the House of Representatives vesterday, Mr Colvin (on behalf of Mr T. E. Y. Sedilon, member for Westland) asked whether the Minister of Agriculture knew that from the horses in the army (those being used by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force included) mares suitable for breeding had been picked out with aview to sending them to England; ami whether some scheme of keeping valuable blood stock replenished in New Zealand had been decided on by the Government to take effect immediately or at the end of the war. The Hon. Mr MaeDonald (Minister of Agriculture) replied: The Government is not aware of the fact stated, but it is satisfactory to know that good New Zealand mares are to be utilised in England for breeding purposes. In purchasing remounts for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, the purchasing officers were specially instructed that good mares, suitable for breeding purposes, were not to be taken unless under special circumstances. It was, however, found that, a large number of good mares were offered for sale, their owners having no intention of breeding from them, and consequently a limited number were allowed to lie purchased; but every precaution was taken to ensure the retention in the Dominion of the great majority of the best type mares.