The Proposed Stallion Tax.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 344, 29 August 1889, Page 2

The Proposed Stallion Tax.

WHAT HAS THE GISBORNE SOCIETY TO SAY? Oua local Agricultural Society has long lain in a dormant state—a kind of “ living death,” if that phrase can be understood—but there is one thing they might well cogitate upon in good time, and that is the proposed stallion tax. We in this district should not remain unheard in this matter, whether our voice is to be for or against the proposition. A very good article on the subject appears in the Canterbury Times, and we reprint It in full for the benefit of the numerous country readers of the Standard :— From the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Association has emanated a circular to kindred Associations throughout the colony, requesting co-operation in bringing about the imposition of an annual tax of say £lO per head on stallions in New Zealand. It is more than probable that the A. and P. Associations in New Zealand will accord their sympathy with the proposal, as it has much to recommend it. But it cannot be expected to be run right through without opposition altogether. Evidence of this was given at the last meeting of the Ashburton A, and P. Association. During the discussion on the subject, one well-known farmer in the Wakanui entered a strong protest against the proposed tax, spa.iking of it as an interference with the liberty of the subject, and pointing out that the tax was unnecessary, as no farmer who knew his business would ever think of using a horse that was not up to the mark, so that the question of good sires and bad sires, without any tax at all was one merely of the survival of the fittest—the scrubber stallion having to take a back seat from sheer want of patronage. Probably, were all owners of mares as good judges of horseflesh as the speakers are who took this ground, the question of a tax would never have been raised, for few scrubbers would have been foaled. But all owners of mares are not so, and consequently weedy sires, that ought never to have been at stud, find patrons and leave progeny that ought never to have been foaled, but, being so, are reared and broken. The owners of this kind of etook are usually surprised to find that, when they enter the market, the cost of the sire’s service is not covered by the price obtained for his progeny. The survival of the fittest is all very well in theory, but while the struggle is going on to find out the fittest, the cheap and nasty horses are at work, leaving a very bad mark behind them. The existence of these inferior stallions is a heavy handicap against men who would willingly do all they can and know to introduce and travel really high class sires, because the patronage bestowed by owners of mares ph cheaper but inferior horses is lust so much business taken away from them. A still tax, with, let us add, compulsory inspection by a properly qualified and legally appointed veterinary surgeon, would very icon drive off the road many stallions that ought to have been geldings, and the good effect of their " alteration" would be speedily manifest in the improved class of stock, the progeny of proper sires, The tax would very probably raise the service tariff, but while it did so it could not fail to compel the paying of more attention to the selection of mares. There are men who fancy that any sort of equine female thing is fit for stud, and act upon this notion. Owners of scrub entires are of course quite ready to do business, and the result is more wbids. The’Weeding out of inferior sires—the object aimed at by tjie proposed tax—would materially Mr the improvement of the horses of the Colony by plftdlng the owners of good sires in a better position to decline the Berviceyj)fefthalr stallion* rj wprthless mares. W6 lre aware that some sensible D ?7ii having some regard for the F e huhri)on oj thejj orBoß (Hey ata travelling; but the enhanpeu f eea yrould cause many mates that are nr w stinted to be withheld.

ibe gi-eaii iaea o z the proposed tax is te raprove the breeding o f horees in the Oulony, and In many wayUt is CB i ollla ted to do so. If carried out it cafa ot fail alsOf we thiak| t 0 improve their mc n6 y value, for of necessity fewer foals must dropped, and while their stamp is imprpVF3 | the HUmber of hordes in the colony will legs, it is not proposed, wa understand, pi ao e tax upon stallions kept purely for purposes and not used for stud, nor upoa g uo h entires as are kept by owners who nave B suiii(jig a t number of mares of tbelr own to Pjford a season, co long s> the entires are kepi etrictly to tfeair own etablee. There are arguments that could be used both for a: t a ggainst the imposition of an entire horse tas ; b u t 00 aB j lr aa we h ava thought the qm htioti out and hesrd it debated, we feel inclif avor jf t the more especially teat PWvp in the near future horsebreedmg— t^ o of good horses, both draught and fit for cavalry mounts—will ' oa a g OQ( j paying industry »u I New Zealand. r '