§ This Act, except Section ten, shall apply to Scotland with the substitution of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.
§ Amendment made:
§ After the word "ten" insert the words "and Sub-section (2) of Section eleven."— [Mr. Prothero.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time.
§ Sir J. SPEARWhile admitting that the Bill is a valuable step in the direction of promoting healthy horses and grappling with the evils of hereditary disease, I regret its limited character. I would have liked to have seen the principle of the Bill applied to all stallions used for fees, whether the premises are occupied by the owner or not, because this evil will arise: A horse that may be rejected as unsound may be kept by the owner on his own premises, and used for fees without let or hindrance. That is a very serious blot on the Bill, and it will be an outlet, I am afraid, for the continuation of the propagation of hereditary diseases in horses. I am aware that there was strong opposition on the part of the breeders of thoroughbreds against the extension of the principle of the Bill to horses used on the owner's own premises, but I think the promoters of the breeding of thoroughbreds have taken a wrong step in objecting to the application of the principle that in the case of their sires a certificate of soundness must be produced. I cannot help thinking that the contention that 1133 racing is essential to the maintenance of the breeding of horses, which is largely responsible for the limited character of this Bill, was advanced by the owners of racing horses which are available for the production of racers, even though they are not strictly sound. However, as one who breeds horses, I feel grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the step in the right direction which he has taken, and I earnestly hope that the benefits of this measure will become so apparent that before long it will be applied to all stallions used for hire, thereby making it very unlikely that there will be any continued propagation of hereditary disease. I can only say that it will inflict some hardship on the owners of these horses who have complained, and complained strongly, that it ought to be applied to all horses used for service, in which case they were quite prepared to submit to the restrictions, which they admit are absolutely just, if extended to all horses used for service and not merely to those that are used on premises other than those occupied by the owners.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the third time, and passed.