211 



animals, which would be serviceable, either for Military or Police 

 work in E- gland or thecolonie.«, from breeders. 



I think I am correct in stating the stamp of animal required by- 

 Government are animals from 14-2 hh — 15-2 h.h., from 4 years old 

 to 6 years old, of stout build. The Government could issue circulars 

 inviting an \ one who has animals of the above description (more fully 

 describe *) to send in information as to number, age, etc., of animal, or 

 animals, for sale. 



An official could be sent round to the various districts examining 

 the horses and taking those which are suitable, these could be either 

 shipped in small numbers or collected and shipped per transports 

 coming to the West Indies. 



I am certain if Government only made a move on some such basis 

 breeders would see it worth while to breed. 



OoLONKL H, E. C. Kitchener: Action and bone. 



A. P. LocKWOOD WiNGATE, Esu : The one and only way to encour- 

 age the aims of horse-breeders is to find a market for our four yeai- old 

 horses at prices that will pay one for breeding them. In other words, 

 make the business a paying one. If we could sell all our sound 4 year 

 old horses at from £-i') to £40 each, most of the other difficulties would 

 vanish. 



Hon. G. McGrath : The aims of horse-breeders should be encou- 

 raged by the Government giving two or three substantial purses to be 

 raced for by 3 year old fillies and colts, breeders would then be encou- 

 raged to feed their foals, and it must be borne in mind that a good 

 animal for any purpose is produced by early and systematic feedino-. 



A. C, L. Martin. Esq. : Unless a market can be foun I for the 

 animals produced it is no good encouraging the production of horse 

 flesh. Given a steady reliable market any class of animal required can 

 be produced here. 



E. W. Muirhead, Esq. : With reference to horses my opinion is 

 that there are plenty of the best bloodel stallions from Eno-land now 

 in the island to need further importation, but that some large service- 

 able Brood Mares, in foal to some good horses before leaving Eno-land 

 would do more good 



We are fearfully short of large brood mares to-day and it is unrea- 

 sonable to expect the stallions to do all the good of improving horse- 

 breeding that is expected of them. With the present price for horses 

 it is impossible to produce same for sale at 4 years old at a profit, and 

 it is very questionable with increased importations, unless sale can be 

 obtained for some elsewhere, if we will be able to dispose of them. 



J. T. Palache. Esq.: 1. Careful selection of stud animals. 



2. The cultivation of knowledge as to breeding and crossing ; care- 

 ful attention to brood mares during the period of gestation and foalino- ; 

 more attention to the care of foals and young stock and their feediu'>- 



3. Instruction in agriculture so that more food supplies can be 

 grown and thus lessen the cost of grain feeding, as at present this de- 

 pends almost entirely on imported food stuffs. Oats cannot be grown 

 here, but a substitute quite equal to it for horses can be found in 



