VIt THE SIRE 85 
the army remounts, and they serve all mares free of 
charge. I do not suggest that our Government should 
give us such privileges as these. I am all in favour 
of, and have the greatest faith in, the power of 
private enterprise and individual effort, believing it 
to be far more effective and more productive than 
what is done by those who lean on public authorities 
for guidance, and who have to look to taxes to 
supply their profit and interest on outlay. But 
there would be nothing subversive of. free-trade 
principles or discouraging to private effort if the 
principle were extended that has been adopted in 
devoting the Queen’s Plate money to giving prizes 
to Thoroughbred stallions under regulations framed 
by the Royal Commission. This system, which has 
just enough flavour of royal patronage and pecuniary 
reward to stimulate competition and to tempt out 
good horses, has already worked wonders in encourag- 
ing and improving the breeding of half-bred horses 
and stimulating public interest and attention. The 
knowledge that every Queen’s Premium horse has 
been thoroughly “ vetted ” and is free from hereditary 
taint, has given confidence, and many farmers and 
others wish they were placed within reach of 
one of these horses. But the 45000 at present 
devoted to the purpose is not sufficient to place the 
horses within the reach of many. The country is 
divided up into enormous districts, and three horses 
only are allotted to each ; thus Durham, Northum- 
berland, Cumberland, and Westmorland form one 
district, and have three Queen’s Premium sires, 
Yorkshire having another three. Well, a farmer 
may as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay as 
