8i 



drew the attention of the House of Lords 

 to the question of the " Horse Supply for 

 Military and Industrial Purposes." He ren- 

 dered a tribute to the work that was being 

 done by private persons and by societies 

 and associations, thanks to whose endeavours 

 the breeders of Shire horses and Clydesdales 

 were prospering. The brisk foreign demand 

 for British stock proved its merit, but so 

 long as halfbred horses suitable for remounts 

 and all useful purposes were as scarce as 

 they were, while we were importing horses 

 to the value of over a quarter of a million 

 sterling annually, including harness-horses 

 and match pairs of carriage-horses, we had 

 evidence that we were not breeding high 

 class horses up to the demand for our own 

 daily increasing needs. 



He urged that the money given in Queen's 

 Plates be diverted from its then use and 

 devoted to subsidising approved stallions, 

 which should serve at low fees ; and that 

 large prizes should be offered from the 

 public purse for foals, yearlings, and two- 

 year-olds. As regarded military horses he 

 advised the purchase of two-year-olds to be 

 kept at maturing depots till old enough to 

 take in hand ; and in recommending the 

 system of direct purchase from the breeder 

 6 



