§ MR. BURDETT COUTTS (Westminster)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the promised appropriation of £5,000 for the encouragement of horse breeding; Whether he will recommend the Board, which is to arrange the allocation, to take into consideration the fact that, at the present time, except in three counties, there are practically no good stallions at the service of farmers and breeders, other than thoroughbreds and cart-horses; that there exist in special localities at least three old English breeds, possessing the qualities requisite for breeding the best type of general utility horses—namely, the Hackney, the Cleveland bay, and. The Yorkshire coach-horses; that these breeds have been for some years systematically bought up by Foreign Governmental Breeding Establishments, with the result that foreign countries now supply England with a vast number of the light-draught horses used; and, whether he will provide that the grant in question shall not be monopolized for the production of hunting stock, but that the interests of the above-mentioned breeds be represented on the Board with a view to their preservation and further development throughout the country?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)The Board which is to be constituted to administer the sum allocated to the encouragement of horse-breeding will be a Board of experts, and I really cannot see that it is the business of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to advise them in the discharge of their duties. It is to that Board, when constituted, that the hon. Member's suggestions should be addressed, and I am sure they will receive the consideration which they deserve. Undoubtedly, it is intended that the proposed grant should be devoted to improving the breed of general utility horses, and not merely to the production of hunting stock.