THE WAR OFFICE DEMAND FOR HOUSES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4898, 9 October 1901, Page 4

THE WAR OFFICE DEMAND FOR HOUSES.

In the debate which took place in the House of Commons upon the vote o! £16,977,000 for transport and remounts on the 12th June, the Secretary for War bad his attention called to the purchase of horses at BudaPestb, id Hungary, and replied tbat foreign purchases would have to be made unless steps were taken by Great Britain and the British colonies to maintain the supply. He was glad to state that all the colonial Governments were prepared, as far as he could judge) to meet them as well as they could, He hoped they would be able to evolve some scheme which would prevent in tbe future having to pay what he admitted during the late crisis were panic prices. From the commencement of the war to 3 1st May, 172,985 horses were sent out to South Africa and 80,723 mules, and on 11th May there were 185,000 horses and mules with the forcHs. It had been stated tbat tbe Englieh .horses were the beat, but they certainly were the most expensive. Tbe Government phid for cavalry and artillery borses at Home on an average about £42 ; tbe horses obtained from Canada could be bought on tbe spot for about £30 ; nnd those purchased in Australia, the United States, and Hungary varied from About £20 to £25. The Govern, ment had of course, to consider the class of borses which could be obtained and :the rapidity with which they could be brought together. Tbe Govern. ment was^uite aware of the necessity for putting tbe remount eetablishmeat oa the best possible basis, and it would be seen tbat a suitable reserve of horses were established, while they were also carefully considering the sources of supply which the experience of the war had Bhown to be the best. Ha; believed that when the record of the war came to be written, and the inquiry of which they had heard so much took place, it would be found that the mortality among horses was chiefly due to tbe fact they had to be used before they had sufficiently re* covered from tbe effects t>i tbe voyage-