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Note 4 of the Rules for the guidance of Judging Committees runs as fol-
lows:—
"None but remounts purchased from bonâ fide breeders will be allowed to compete in these classes (Re-
mounts). The Judging Committee to decide whether the owners of the animals competing are bonâ fide breeders
or not."
To this rule the Government of Bombay raised objections to its being
enforced at the Sindh Horse Show on the grounds, as stated in the letter from
the Deputy Commissioner, Upper Sindh Frontier, that the greater number of
animals fit for "remounts" and "remounts purchased at the Show" are equally
the property of dealers from Afghanistan.
As, however, I pointed out, if dealers are allowed to compete at one Show,
it will create dissatisfaction at other Shows where they are not likely to com-
pete. Again, I showed that at the Horse Show held at Jacobabad in 1893-94,
724 head of indigenous stock competed for prizes, and that it should be our
endeavour to induce the bonâ fide breeders to keep their produce to that age at
which it can be bought for Native Cavalry.
No. 59 R. and A., dated 2nd May 1895.
I however, suggested in paragraph 5 of my letter, marginally quoted, that
should it be considered necessary to award
any prizes to these men, I would prefer
their competing in a class by themselves, and that a few prizes might be given
to imported northern horses.
The Government of India, in their reply to the Government of Bombay
state:—
"The Government of India see no advantage in admitting the dealer class to the competition for prizes, as
the object of the dealer is to sell his stock, rather than to take prizes, and his exclusion from competition will
not prevent him from attending the best market available to him ; while the object with which the small sum
available for prizes is expended, is the encouragement of horse-breeding and not of horse-dealing.
"For this reason the Government of India do not approve of the suggestion made in paragraph 5 of the
Inspector-General's letter that prizes should be offered for competition among the dealers in a separate class by
themselves; and they would prefer to devote all the money available to the award of prizes to breeders. The
more prizes can be given to breeders, the greater will be the inducement to them to bring their own good stock
to market, instead of selling to dealers beforehand. This is most desirable, as the margin between the prices at
which the dealer buys and sells would admit of Government buying cheaper and of the breeders getting a better
price."
The above extract from Government of India letter so very clearly states
the case, that I have thought it advisable to give the reasons in extenso as they
do not appear to be generally understood.
SUMMARY.
438. The total number of animals present at the various Horse Fairs and
Shows, during the year under review (vide Table XV, page liii), showed an
increase of 3,345 over last year, whilst the number of exhibits showed a decrease
of 146. The increase in the number of animals attending the fairs was most
marked in the North-Western Provinces and Punjab.
All our best shows and fairs have either maintained the high position
reached last year or show an increase. Amongst these may be noted Aligarh,
Bulandshahr, Meerut, and Muzafarnagar in the North-Western Provinces;
Amritsar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Jellalabad, Jhang, Lahore, Multan,
Rawal Pindi, Shahpur, and Umballa in the Punjab; Ahmednagar in Bombay.
Decrease is noticeable in Bannu in the Punjab, and in Quetta and Sibi
in Baluchistan.
439. The endeavours which were made last year to prevent fairs clashing
with one another, proved very successful, and Remount Officers' tours were more
easily regulated than they had hitherto been. Of course, in a large country
like India, where over 40 important shows are held , it is impossible to prevent
some clashing, but this is minimised by reference being made to the various
District Officers prior to the fixing of dates submitted by them, which are
found to be unsuitable when other fairs are considered.
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