The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1902.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11677, 10 February 1902, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1902.

At the monthly meeting of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which was held on Saturday afternoon, the chairman read the report of the subcommittee appointed to report - on the proposed autumn show and sale of horses. The report, which was adopted, recommended that the proposal be carried out, and the Ist May was fixed as the date. In the course of the discussion the question of finance was considered. The subcommittee had estimated the expenditure at about £4O, but the secretary thought that it would be at least £6O. The impression was that the receipts would not amount to so much; but, as Mr Mundell very justly said, "if they did lose £5 or £lO, it was their duty to encourage the breeding of good horses in the district." The show and sale will, to a certain extent, help in that direction, especially if the proposed prizes are given. But a great deal more will have to be done to bring about the . degree of improvement which is. urgently needed in the breeding of horses. We were very much impressed by Mr Gilruth's report, to which reference was made in our columns not long since. He wrote strongly and clearly of the large proportion of entire horses and mares which were suffering from hereditary unsoundness, and there is no reason to suppose that he exaggerated the evil. The demand for horses for South Africa has naturally attracted attention to the subject; and though the war may perhaps be over in the course of the next few months, there ■will be a veiy considerable demand -for some years longer. Under present circumstances it does not appear tliat New Zearand will be in a position to render much'assistance, and yet this colony ought to be a centre to which the Imperial Government could look for an unfailing i supply of remounts of the very best class. J India alone ought to be able to absorb far more New Zealand horses than has been the case in the past. It would pay the Indian Government to establish- a stud in New Zealand, or the Indian and Imperial Government could unite in the undertaking. Perhaps when the Premier is at Home he may find time to open the question, and lay the foundation for a practical result. The Imperial Government are always short of horses to an extent, which even in times of peace amounts to a public scandal. Neither the ( cavalry nor the artillery hare anything approaching their proper proportion of horses, and then when war comes search has to be made far and wide to supply the deficiency. With the Indian and South African markets in view, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association cannot go wrong ia turning their attention to the subject of horse-breedtng. The efforts of a few years would bring about a considerable change for the better. Mr Gilruth did not specially single out South Canterbury for censure in regard to the proportion of horses suffering from hereditary unsoundness, but, on the other hand, he made no exception in favour of this part of the colony, and he evidently believes that the evil will go on increasing unless steps are taken to check it.