1908.] Royal Commission on Horse Breeding. 207 



would show since the premiums were first awarded in 1888, 

 an average annual production of 783 foals. 



This number of foals is, of course, but a trifling addition to 

 our stock, compared with the requirements of the country, 

 but it must not be forgotten (firstly) that they are all of them 

 the produce of perfectly sound horses ; (secondly) that for 

 some years past their success in winning prizes for young 

 stock at the leading shows in the United Kingdom has been 

 conspicuous ; and (thirdly) that during 1907 the descendants 

 of these horses were winners of no less than 489 prizes. 



The Commissioners add that they are well aware that the 

 work of the Commission has been freely criticised, and 

 numerous suggestions have been made for a different dis- 

 tribution of its funds, which the Commissioners have carefully 

 considered, but its main and primary duty being to encourage 

 the breeding and maintenance of a race of sound horses, it is 

 permissible, they think, to doubt whether their extremely 

 limited means could have been used to better advantage for 

 the purpose of the special duty which had been entrusted to 

 them. 



The Commissioners call special attention to the following 

 paragraphs in a memorandum of conclusions which was 

 submitted to the Board of Agriculture : — 



' 'We think that the 28 King's premium stallions which are allowed ior 

 Great Britain are wholly insufficient for the wants of the country. We note 

 the great use made in some districts, not only of unsound, weedy, thoroughbred 

 stallions, seldom if ever exhibited, but also of inferior mongrel half-bred stallions, 

 of bad quality. We regret the continual purchase by Foreign Governments of many 

 of our best stallions, and we think that measures should be taken to counteract this 

 evil which has been so appropriately referred to by the Royal Commission. 



"The deterioration has steadily increased since this representation was made, 

 and improvement is unlikely with the growth of the motor and tramway systems. 

 We think that the Irish plan of providing funds to associations or individuals for 

 the purchase of stallions in certain districts, iwith a provision for repayment by 

 instalments, ought to be developed in Great Britain as supplementary to the system 

 of King's premiums. Stallions should, as has been the case in Ireland, be eligible for 

 prizes varying from £5 to .£25, for the points gained by their stock exhibited at 

 shows approved by the Department of Agriculture. 



" We do not think, however, that the Irish plan will be sufficient in itself, 

 or that it would prevent Foreign Governments from continuing to get the best of our 

 thoroughbred stallions, adapted for country purposes. 



" Something more than that is needed when, as in this case, we have to 

 compete with the resources of Foreign Governments for their possession. 



"We consider it essential, for the real and permanent improvement of the 

 breeds, that the majority of these horses which now go abroad should be secured for 

 use in the United Kingdom. 



