The fee charged for the use of a pubHc stallion is 

 generally under £i. 



Privately owned stallions must be approved by local 

 committees (which also license bulls and boars) before their 

 services may be hired. During the financial year of 1904, 

 2,279 licences were applied for and 1,433 were granted. The 

 majority of these licences were for light riding or light draught- 

 horses ; the remainder for farm and cart stallions. 



Much is done to promote private enterprise. There is a 

 special fund provided by the Government from which private 

 horse-breeding associations can obtain loans free of interest. 

 Such loans must be repaid within six years. At the end of 

 1895, 61 associations had taken advantage of this fund, the 

 total lent being £5,275. 



Brood-mares may be purchased on very easy conditions 

 from the Government Supply Depots; the principal stipulation 

 being that the buyer shall have the mare covered by a good 

 half-bred stallion belonging to an Imperial stud, and shall 

 offer the produce when three years old to the Army buyer 

 as a Remount. If, however, the owner wish to employ the 

 produce for stud purposes he is not bound to put it on the 

 Remount market. Pecuniary inducements are also offered to 

 breeders to retain good brood-mares and rear young stock. 



For the convenience of breeders the War Office agents 

 arrange markets at suitable times and places, where young 

 animals on sale as Remounts for the Army may be inspected 

 and bought ; no middlemen are employed. 



Horses are purchased by the military buyers at three 

 years old. The average price paid is about ;^47, but 

 purchasing officers are, or were a few years since, mstructed 

 to deal liberally with the breeders. I am informed that it 

 was the rule not to try and beat down the price asked for 

 a horse if it were reasonable ; and giving a small breeder 

 more than he demanded was not unknown if the animal 

 appeared more valuable than the owner supposed it. The 

 young horses thus purchased are kept at the Remount Depots- 



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