20
advantages than any other, and I am still in correspondence with the Deputy
Commissioner of that district, and hope to be able to arrange another trial and
a more successful one than the last. It only requires to be well started in one
centre for the advantages to be apparent to all Officers Commanding Native
Cavalry Regiments.
120. Something of the sort has been done during the year. An officer
of the Queen's Own Corps of Guides proceeded to Shahpur in October last, and
was able to purchase 15 head of young stock; and again, the Officer Com-
manding, 3rd Punjab Cavalry, marched to Shahpur, visiting Talagang,
Pindigheb, and other places, and although he was only able to buy a few, still,
they were better than those purchased at the Fair.
121. I would be glad if all officers who intend to adopt this system in
future would communicate with me before they start, as I could then instruct
the Superintendent to give them every assistance, and the Zilladar of the
district should be in a position to tell them exactly where the class of animal
they require, be it young stock or mature horses, is to be found.
Purchase
of
young stock by
Remount
De-
partment, direct
from breeders.
122. During the year under review, the Government of India requested
the Director, Army Remount Department, to let me know the Fairs which the
Officers of the Remount Department would attend annually, the dates on
which they would be present, and the number of young stock they would be
prepared to buy at each, On receiving this information, I was directed to
acquaint the Deputy Commissioner of the district, and to ask him to circulate
the information in all Tehsils. The Government of India expressed a desire
that, if possible, arrangements should be made under which Remount Officers
should attend each Fair visited, for not less than two days.
123. The following rule, issued by the Director, Army Remount Depart-
ment, was added to those issued to Remount Officers attending Horse Fairs
and Shows:—
"The Officers of the Remount Department attending the Horse Fairs and Shows should give timely intima-
tion to the Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department, of their probable dates of arrival at the Fairs and.
Shows, so that he may warn the Civil Authorities."
124. The Director also kindly furnished me with a list of Fairs and Shows
that would be attended by his officers, giving the number of stock they would
be prepared to buy at each.
125. Theoretically, this plan is admirable, and if carried out to the letter
would work to the advantage, not only of the breeders but also of the Remount
Department, for it would ensure better material at a lower price than is paid
to the dealer; but the words "probable dates of arrival" in the Director's
order rather militates against the success of the scheme. A fixed date should
be named and should not be deviated from. Again, the notice that should be
given me, should be at least six weeks, in order to have any effect, as time is
required to issue notices throughout a district; in some cases, the notice was
only received two to seven days before the Show was held, and this was practically
useless.
126. The fact that the Director notified that 383 head of stock would be
bought, and that only 160 were purchased by the Remount Department,
prevented the scheme being brought into operation this year with any success.