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451. The Punjab Committee was composed as follows:—
Major V. M. Stockley, 16th Bengal Cavalry.
Captain R. A. Kaye, Royal Artillery.
Veterinary Lieutenant C. B. M. Harris, Army Veterinary Depart-
ment.
452. The Deputy Commissioner of each district acted as ex-officio Presi-
dent, but in every case left the judging of the various classes to the three
Members. The appointment of the Deputy Commissioner as such has worked
well and has prevented any friction between the Committees and the District
Officers.
453. In the Bengal Command, one Officer of Bengal Cavalry was detailed
to attend the Committee appointed to judge at the Horse Shows of Aligarh and
Bulandshahr, whilst another was detailed for Muzafarnagar and Meerut.
454. As the object of Government in appointing these Committees is to
ensure one system of judging at all shows, and as this cannot be arrived at if
the Committees are differently constituted, I would have referred the matter
had the Judging Committee assembled, but I shall address the Deputy Adjutant
General, Bengal Command, when the Committee is appointed for the ensuing
year, and shall ask him to endeavour to avoid any change in the Committee
named.
455. The system of having one Committee to judge at all the shows in a
Province is one that must commend itself to all who have seen the work
performed during the last two years, and who were acquainted with the
manner in which it was done formerly. The small expense incurred is well
expended and I shall recommend the continuance of this system.
Silver Medals.
456. As was adopted last year, Silver Medals have been awarded at all the
fairs and shows held in Upper India for the best collection of brood mares
and young stock, the property of one owner. When I proposed, for the con-
sideration of the Government of India, that these medals should be awarded,
I had no idea that they would be so keenly competed for; they are greatly
appreciated, and the winners of the previous year are always seen wearing them
at the next show ; they may in fact be described as the blue ribands of our
shows. The competition in each case where a medal has been awarded has
always been most keen, and has brought together some excellent collections
of brood mares and young stock.
457. One medal was awarded at each of the shows held at Ulwar and
Jeypore, and as, in the previous year, the fact that the Government of India
recognized the value of these shows by allowing one of their horse-breeding
medals to be competed for, gave great satisfaction.
458. On this subject the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
North Punjab, states:—
"The institution of the presentation of a silver medal for the owner producing the best collection of brood
mares and stock at Horse Shows has done considerable good ; it has resulted in a keen competition among all
owners of a number of mares and young stock. They get their animals into better condition and take more
care of them than they ordinarily would."
Prizes awarded
at Horse Fairs
and Shows.
459. The sum of R21,000 is allotted annually as prizes at the various
Horse Fairs and Shows in India, and in addition to this amount, R500 is
specially sanctioned as prizes to be distributed at the Kalimpong Fair, with a
view of encouraging the importation of Thibetan mules.
460. The allotment to the various shows is one which always receives most
careful attention at my hands, and any increase or decrease is based on the
number and class of animals competing, and it is for this reason that I visit
as many Horse Fairs and Shows as possible during the year.
461. It will be understood that having a fixed allotment, any increase
which has to be made to any very deserving show has to be met by a corres-
ponding decrease, unless I solicited the Government of India to increase the
grant, and this I am not in a position to do. For the ensuing year, it would
be advisable to increase the awards made to many, but I shall have to confine
my recommendations for an increase to only such as are the most deserving.
I am led to make these remarks as I regret to find that District Officers, from