240 Journal of Agriculture. [11 April, 1910. 



English Examinations. 



In order to insure that only sound horses are imported from Great Bri- 

 tain in tlie future, and to avoid disappointment and loss on the part of 

 importers, it was decided before the commencement of last season that 

 certificates issued by certain societies in England. Scotland and Ireland 

 would be accepted here as a basis for the issue of the Victorian Government 

 Certificate of Soundness, without further examination at this end. The 

 societies asked to co-operate in this matter were the Roval Shire Horse 

 Society (England), Royal Agricultural Society (England), Royal Dublin 

 Society's Horse Show (Ireland), Highland and Agricultural Society (Scot- 

 land), and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Agricultural Societv. To 

 this end the societies named were written to some time ago and asked to 

 authorize and undertake the duty. So far, replies have been received from 

 th Royal Dublin Society, the Highland and Agricultural Society, and the 

 Shire Horse Society. The two former letters intimate that tho.se societies 

 are to take the matter into consideration shortly, and the Shire Horse 

 Society, in its letter, states that its Council has decided to accede to the 

 request of this Government, and has authorized for the purpose examination 

 by their Senior Veterinary Inspector (Professor Penberthv). Certificates 

 will be accepted from Profes.sor Penberthy not only in respect of shire 

 horses, but in respect of horses of any breed, as also certificates from the 

 veterinary inspectors of the other societies named, provided such certificates 

 are issued officially on tehalf of the societies. 



Regulations and List. 



Regulations governing the examination of stallions, together with list 

 of certificated stallions, have been published each year at the close of the 

 season, and may be had on application to the Secretary. 



During the season 1907, 56 parades and shows were attended ; during 

 T908, the examinations were conducted almost wholly at parades, of which 

 118 were arranged for and attended. During the last season (1909), 124 

 parades have been carried out. 



Examining Officers. 



So far as possible, the desire has been in this State to make the examina- 

 tions uniform. To that end, not more than four officers ha\'e l>een engaged 

 each season on examinations. After the first year, however, Mr. Norman 

 McDonald, G.M.V.C., retired from the service of the Department to visit 

 England. During the second season I ceased conducting examinations per- 

 sonally, in order that my position on the Court of Appeal might not be 

 prejudiced. Messrs. W. J. Colebatch, ^M.R.C.V.S.. and W. A. X. Robert- 

 son, G.M.V.C., have been examining officers throughout, and for the past 

 two seasons Mr J. Lyons, M.R.C.V.S., and Mr. E. A. Kendall, G.M.V.C., 

 completed the staff. It is to be regretted that, in future, the scheme will 

 not have the valued assistance of Mr. W. J. Colebatch or Mr. J. Lvons, 

 both of whom have recently retired from the Go\ernment service in this 

 State to undertake more lucrative positions in South Australian and New 

 Zealand resDectivelv. The examining staff hns, however, licen increased by 

 the addition of Mr. R. Griffin, M.R.C.V.S., and Mr. W. J. Cother. 

 G.M.V.C. It is not too much to say that the success that has attended the 

 carrying out of the scheme so far, has been in a great measure due to the 

 high qualifications posses.sed for this class of work by the officers concerned, 

 whereby the fullest confidence of both the Government and the horse-breed- 

 ing public has been established. 



