II April, 1910.] Government Certification of Stallions. 



239 



not a redundancy of mis-fits. Mediocre horses, as regards qualitv, type 

 and power may be, and are, bred in sufficiently large numbers, even when 

 the best sires are used on mediocre mares ; and to add to the trouble by 

 using also a mediocre sire will inevitably result in a still further deteriora- 

 tion. The present position of affairs indicates plainly that the matter 

 cannot be safely left in the hands of breeders. It is too true that many 

 breeders are too prone to patronize inferior stallions, because of their 

 cheapness ; and to sa\'e them from themsehes, it has become necessary that 

 an efficient method of Government control should be fearlessh carried 

 out. 



Extension of the Scheme to other States. 



The system adopted three years ago in Victoria has been put into force 

 in the three neighbouring States of New South Wales, Queensland and 

 South Australia. Each of these States commenced to carry out examina- 

 tions under regulations practically identical with those which have been 

 operative in Victoria. So far, however, the system in the sister States has 

 been confined to examination of stallions at shows. Consequently, the 

 numbers that have been examined in the States named have been compara- 

 tively small. Figures are not to hand from South Australia, but tables 

 of results have been published as regards examinations made to date in 

 Queensland and New South Wales. For purposes of comparison, I append 

 a table setting out the numbers of stallions examined and rejected in Vic- 

 toria. Queensland and New South Wales respectively during the season 

 1909. Thev are as follows: — 



Reciprocal Arrangements with Other Countries. 



Prior to the commencement of the 1909 season, it was arranged, in order 

 to meet the convenience of importers of horses from New Zealand, that 

 the Victorian Government would issue the Government Certificate of Sound- 

 ness without examination in respect of horses imported from New Zealand 

 which had been there examined by a Government Veterinary Officer and 

 certificated under the conditions laid down in the Victorian Regulations. 

 Altogether, under this departure, 33 New Zealand certificates were 

 accepted and exchanged for the Victorian Go^•ernment Certificate. Doubt- 

 less, prior to the commencement of the forthcoming season, similar arrange- 

 ments will be entered into with the Governments of New South Wales, 

 Queensland, and South Australia, whereby a horse certificated in one State 

 will be accepted by the Government of every other State as qualified for 

 certification in such State. Before this can be arranged, however, it will 

 be necessary that the States concerned shall be satisfied as to the uniformitv 

 of standard of examination and as regards the unsoundnesses constituting 

 a bar. 



