§ MR. JEFFREYS (Hants, Basingstoke)I beg to ask the Minister of Agriculture why none of the Queen's premiums stallions have been allotted to District D, which comprises the 10 important counties of Berks, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hants, Kent, Somerset, Surrey, 1638 Sussex, and Wilts; whether he is aware that the Royal Agricultural Society of England have subsidised the above district with three stallions for this season only; and whether he will undertake that the said counties shall have their fair share of the 22 Queen's premiums stallions next year?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordThe reason why none of the stallions which won the Queen's premiums have been allotted to District D is that their place is taken this year by the winners of the prizes given by the Royal Agricultural Society. Twenty-two Queen's premiums are annually given by the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding, and three by the Royal Agricultural Society, the two bodies working in conjunction. The winners of the prizes offered by the Royal Agricultural Society are located for the season in the district in which the Society's show is held, which is this year District D. This arrangement has hitherto been found to work satisfactorily. Next year stallions which have won the Queen's premiums will be allotted to the district referred to by the hon. Member.