47
193. In last year's report the Political Agent and Deputy Commissioner,
Quetta, took a very gloomy view of the prospects of the show, owing to the fact
that before the fair commenced and before many of the buyers had arrived, the
best horses had been sold; owing to this, he predicted that the future of the fair
would be doomed.
This officer again takes the same view, complaining greatly of the want of
buyers, and adds :—
" I would again ask the Government to consider what was proposed last year but vetoed, viz.,
that all purchasing of horses be prohibited in the Quetta-Pishin district from the 1st of September
until 10 days before the fair."
194. The Agent to the Governor-General again considers it unwise and prac-
tically impossible to attempt to prohibit sales. Last year he recommended that
an officer stationed at Quetta should be deputed to Chaman, say 15 days before
the annual horse show commenced, and that he should then purchase for all
regiments requiring remounts. This suggestion did not recommend itself to the
Government of India as it was practically one for the re-introduction of the
Remount Purchasing Committee, and in this year's report the Agent to the
Governor-General again considers that this is the only course open.
195. Before entering into the question of whether either of the above recom-
mendations are necessary, I would ask whether the facts of the case warrant
any interference. The total number of animals present at the show was
1,342 ; if we deduct the number of brood mares and young stock, we may put
the number of animals offered for sale roughly at 1,000. Of these, 283
were bought for Native Cavalry and 12 for the Rearing Depôt, and by the
report received from the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, the
dealers are said to have purchased 284, making a total of 580 sold out of
1,000 present. Myself 1 fail to see that the sellers have anything to grumble
at, and at the end of the fair I saw nothing fit to buy.
I, however, agree with the following extract from the report by the Deputy
Commissioner:—
" They (the importers) want assistance from Government in two ways,—
" Firstly, they ask that they may be brought into direct contact with the buyers, i.e., that the
Native Cavalry should buy from them direct and not through dealers from India."
196. I regretted to find that the Lahore dealers were actually buying for
Native Cavalry regiments, and I would be glad to see more officers purchasing
at this show.
A prejudice exists against Northern horses; it being generally thought
that they are short necked, heavy shouldered animals with but little heart.
This was the case some years ago, but the class of animal now imported is total-
ly different.
197. The following extracts from Purchasing Officers may be of use, inas-
much as they may induce other officers to attend and to purchase at the Quetta
horse show.
Major Francis, Commanding 5th Bombay Cavalry, says :—
" The horses were of a much superior stamp to those exhibited at the Quetta show during the
last few years ; they showed better blood and shape and greater bone."
Major Monteith, Commanding 3rd Bombay Lancers, says :—
" Horses much improved since I last served in this district,"
198. Another argument used against purchasing at Quetta is the cost of tran-
sit; this, however, is not great, as owing to concessions allowed by the Railway
Company, horses can be landed at Lahore for Rs. 20 or Rs. 25 according to
whether eight or ten are put in a truck. These points require to be known, and
I am pleased to find that the Agent to the Governor General is taking steps in
this direction. In his letter to the Government of India, Foreign Department,
forwarding Colonel Gaisford's report, he says:—
"At the same time it is possible that the Native Cavalry regiments in India do not, as yet
realise what a splendid field Quetta presents, at the time of the annual fair, for procuring horses
suitable for Cavalry remounts. And it may be that if these advantages were more generally
known the consummation desired by the importers of Northern horses would be gained, and direct
dealings between them and the Native Cavalry regiments in Upper India might be instituted at
the Quetta market.