§ MR. ARTHUR JEFFREYS (Hants,) BasingstokeI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the Report of a Joint Committee consisting of representatives from the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, the Suffolk Horse Society, and the Clydesdale Horse Society, on the matter of Government grants for cart stallions and, whether in order to enable farmers to secure the services of sound cart stallions at moderate fees, he will give the same grant towards providing these stallions in the various counties as is now given for thoroughbred stallions?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.My hon. Friend has been good enough to send me the Report of the Committee to which he refers. But, if action on the matter is desired, it should in the first instance be brought before the Royal Commission on Horse-breeding, who are entrusted with the distribution of the sum granted in premiums for the encouragement of horse-breeding. I have received no recommendation, either from that Commission, or from the Board of Agriculture, on the subject and though I certainly cannot speak with any authority, I am myself disposed to doubt whether premiums for cart stallions are necessary for the purpose suggested in the question.