81 
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 depéis till old enough to 
take in hand; and in recommending the 
system of direct purchase from the breeder 
6 
