PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
VII.—GENERAL.
Provincial
cost of Depart-
ment.
538. Table P, page lxxxii, will show the Provincial cost of the Depart-
ment for the official year 1893-94 ; but as with most information received
from Superintendents regarding the Provincial portion of this report, it is very
incomplete.
539. I shall hereafter submit for the consideration of Government that
as the Comptroller of India Treasuries furnishes this office with the total cost
of the Department as far as Imperial charges are concerned, that Local Govern-
ments be asked to allow the same for Provincial charges to be submitted annu-
ally by the various Accountant-Generals.
General
remarks.
540. This portion of the report is, I feel, very incomplete. Instructions were
issued late in the year regarding its submission, and I regret to state that
many of the reports received from the Superintendents are wanting in particu-
lars.
541. The greatest praise is due to Veterinary Captain Morgan, Superinten-
dent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, for his very lucid and able Provin-
cial report, showing that much care has been bestowed on its compilation and
and that great attention has been paid to the various sections comprised in
this portion of his Annual Report.
542. By the foot-note on page 6 for the instructions for the preparation
and submission of Annual Reports by officers of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, it is suggested that the same forms of returns as prescribed for the Im-
perial Report might be usefully adopted for the the Provincial portion of it; but
that their adoption or otherwise is left to the discretion and wishes of the Local
Governments. I am of opinion that this system will prove unworkable. On
this occasion, in some instances, the Imperial forms have been adopted ; in
others different forms have been furnished which afford but little if any, infor-
mation ; whilst again many have not been supplied at all. Before the submis-
sion of next report I purpose compiling a set of forms which, if adopted,
will lead to the collection of much useful information.
Horse-breed-
ing
(Provin-
cial.)
543. This subject has been most warmly taken up by District Boards
especially in the Punjab, and must result in incalculable benefit to the horse
stock of such districts in which the system is in vogue.
544. The essential points to be considered are—
(a). That a good stamp of stallion is obtained. I look upon this as a
sine qua non. I have been asked by District Boards to purchase
Arab pony stallions for them at Rs. 225 each. The class of
animal obtainable at that price would do more harm than good,
and would certainly lead to disappointment on the part of the
breeder and to the discredit of the system. Occasionally such
an animal is to be bought that would give good results. I allude
to the high caste Arab purchased for racing purposes and that
has broken down whilst in training; but such animals are few.
(b). That as little interference as possible should exist with district
authorities. The selection of mares should rest entirely with
them, and branding should be avoided. The officers of this
Department will be directed to assist and instruct District officers
as to the hereditary forms of disease and the best methods to be
adopted for their detection; this being done, it will be advisable
to leave the matter in their hands.