§ 23. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Secretary for War whether, under the new horse registration scheme, the bounty of £4 proposed to be given to owners of horses suitable and available for draft Artillery purposes in times of national emergency is to be limited to those owning at least ten such horses; and, if so, how many of such owners are deemed to exist in the country, and how many horses of the right type are likely to be registered as the result of offering the above-mentioned bonus?
§ Colonel SEELYFor the present remount officers are not visiting stables from which less than ten horses are tendered for the Artillery section of the horse reserve. Arrangements are being made for accepting a proportion of horses from small stables where the owners agree to produce their horses at one place for inspection. As regards the last part of the question, the Army Council is satisfied that the scheme will greatly facilitate mobilisation.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. Gentleman give an opportunity to the ordinary farmer, who seldom has as many as ten horses of this type?
§ Colonel SEELYI will consider that. It is a little difficult to arrange in cases where a man may have but one horse.