§ MR. W. YOUNGER (Lincolnshire, Stamford)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, since the establishment of the present system of purchasing remounts for the Cavalry, Foreign-bred horses have been purchased and introduced from abroad into this country for the purpose; and, whether the Officers, whose duty it is to purchase remounts for the Cavalry, buy direct from the breeders in the United Kingdom, or if in some instances they buy through dealers, thereby causing the breeders of suitable horses to lose much of the profit that they would obtain if such horses were purchased directly from them?
§ MR. BRODRICKSince the period referred to some 20 horses have been purchased in Scotland which were said to have been bred in Canada or the United States. About one-third of the horses bought are purchased from private owners; who, however, are not necessarily the breeders. We have every desire to deal directly with breeders—but it is impossible to decline sound and suitable horses coming from other sources.