I think it is only natural that a great many people should question our sense of proportion in proposing to pay such a large sum of money for one animal. There has been a good deal of publicity in connection with the sale of this horse. It was reasonable to expect, therefore, that a number of people would suggest other possible uses for a sum of money of this size. I think, however, that there is another way of examining this matter. Various suggestions have been made to the effect that it would be possible to utilise this money in other ways. We also had indications given that we have available in the country adequate resources to provide for the development of schemes of such a character as may be considered necessary. I do not think that the Government can seriously contend in future that there is a shortage of money for essential development schemes. The proposal which the Minister has introduced in this Bill is an indication that,whatever else may be wrong with our economy, there is no shortage of money for worth-while development.
The fact that it is proposed to expend this sum of money on the purchase of a single racehorse has probably been magnified out of actual proportion to the capital money involved in the National Stud and out of proportion to the value of the bloodstock industry as a whole. It is not a fair representation to suggest that the expenditure of £250,000 on the purchase of one animal can be isolated from the capital already invested in the National Stud and from the value to the country of the bloodstock industry. This particular purchase was decided upon by the Board of the National Stud as part of a long-term policy to secure what they consider are the best breeding lines available so that the already high prestige of the bloodstock industry of this country may, if possible, be enhanced and its future assured.
There have been a great many suggestions made here that money should be provided for other schemes, such as agriculture, industry, the relief of unemployment, and so forth. I endorse almost all the suggestions made in that regard. If money is required for the improvement of agriculture, for improving cattle, sheep, pigs, for any other schemes under the Department of Agriculture, for investment in secondary industries or for development schemes of any sound nature which will in the long run repay in improved economic conditions, there is no reason why the Government or the House should not make the money available.
It is undoubtedly a fact that there is at the present time very considerable unemployment. It is undoubtedly a fact that many schemes could be initiated which would not merely relieve that situation, but, in the long run, improve economic conditions.
The proposal before the House at the moment should be considered on its merits and in the light of the importance of the bloodstock industry to the country as a source of a valuable export trade, as an important sourceof employment, providing work almost entirely for male workers at good rates of wages. The industry must be considered as a whole. The fact that the National Stud is financed from State sources and that the directors considered it desirable to purchase this animal in the interests of the further development of the policy which they have operated, is merely an accident when considered in relation to the expenditure of this particular sum of money which appears, and which undoubtedly is, a very large sum even for an animal with the outstanding racecourse career of Tulyar.
Almost every Deputy who spoke indicated that he had very little knowledge of the bloodstock industry. In most cases it was obvious from the speeches made that the Deputies concerned had very little connection with bloodstock or with racing. They all recognised the importance of the industry and the fact that the prestige of Irish horses, on the basis of performance on the racecourse, on the basis of performance in the Army Jumping Team and on the basis of the many magnificent performances by civilian riders who have represented this country abroad in jumping competitions, has probably attained an all-time high level.
Many criticisms were expressed that we were buying an expensive horse from a rich man. Admitting that that is true, I think it has been overlooked that the breeder of this horse has helped in enhancing the prestige of Irish breeding by running for very many years a number of large studs in this country which give a good deal of employment. I do not suggest for a moment that the Aga Khan is doing that for the love of this country. He is doing it because it is possible in Ireland to raise the best horses. Over the last quarter of a century horses bred at the Irish studs run by the Aga Khan have achieved records never before attained and which it is unlikely will be reached in future. He has bred four Derby winners and owned a fifth, possibly a sixth. The other was bred in France. He has owned Blenheim, Bahram, Mahmoud, Tulyar. All of these were Irish-bred horses. He bred three of them in this country; theother he bought but it was also bred here. That has advanced the fame of the Irish racehorse. The Aga Khan, in common with other breeders of bloodstock, has provided substantial employment in this country. Bloodstock breeding has provided a very big export trade in the past, mainly to sterling areas and, in recent years, to the dollar area.
The proposal by the National Stud to buy this horse has undoubtedly attracted world-wide attention. It has attracted attention because of the large sum for which the horse has been purchased, because of the fame which Tulyar achieved on the racecourse, and the interest created has extended not only to Europe but even to the United States.
I believe that the policy of the National Stud so far has been wise. In a few years they have achieved successful results. It is common knowledge that up to the present the principal sire there has got what are regarded as short distance runners. In recent years the tendency has been for animals bred for speed, five or six furlong horses, to attract a very high price. That is mainly because of the desire of those who invest in bloodstock to get a quick return. As far as that goes, the National Stud provided the leading sire last year of short distance runners and the leading sire of two-year-olds. They also have another sire, Preciptic, who sired the winner of one good race last year which has since been sold for a substantial sum to the United States. That shows the interest which United States buyers have in securing Irish bloodstock.
The Minister, in introducing this Bill, referred to the fact that in recent years many sires had been purchased for large sums and that some of them had been syndicated at high prices. Some people have suggested that because it was possible to syndicate, through the means of private enterprise, a number of sires both here and in Great Britain that should be possible in this case. With few exceptions. I think that almost all the sires that were syndicated were syndicated after they had shown results at stud. Most largesyndicates were formed after the horse had proved a success at stud. That would mean that he had been anything from three to four years, or maybe five years, at stud. In these cases, the persons concerned were naturally anxious to get an indication beforehand of the likely return before expending sufficient sums of money to purchase the animals in question.
There have been undoubtedly cases in the past of very brilliant racehorses failing at stud to live up to their reputation and not transmitting their racing abilities to their progeny, or not to the same extent. On the other hand, there have been cases of comparatively undistinguished horses, and in some cases horses of no racecourse merit, becoming great sires. There is one thing on which breeders will agree, that there is what might be described as no royal road to success in breeding. It is generally accepted, however, that by breeding from animals with a good or proven pedigree, proper conformation and good racecourse performances the prospect of securing progeny which will in turn achieve success on the racecourse is more likely than by breeding from animals which have shown little racing ability.
If, therefore, it is accepted that it has been the experience of breeders generally that there is a better prospect of breeding the best horses from animals of proven racecourse ability and from well-established lines, then I think it will be accepted that the proposal to buy this racehorse on performance and on pedigree is a sound one. There have been undoubtedly many examples of horses who had very successful racecourse careers not proving successful at stud. On the other hand, horses that were unsuccessful on the racecourse have proven successful at stud. But, on the assumption that, by and large, those that have proved themselves on the racecourse will transmit that ability to their progeny, the proposal to buy this horse meets with my approval.
I agree that the sum of money involved is a large one and criticism may be expressed that it would be possible to utilise it in other ways. But the fact that there is in thiscountry a National Stud which has over a great number of years, either under the former owners' management or since it has come under our own control, achieved a high reputation places on the directors of that stud a responsibility to see that the place of the National Stud in the bloodstock industry of this country is maintained.
Unfortunately, a great number of Deputies have approached this matter on the basis that, because their own particular constituency has no special interest in bloodstock, and because horse-breeding is not an important economic interest in certain areas of the country, the proposal should not be approved. I do not think that we can approach big economic questions on a parochial basis. Merely because one scheme is appropriate to one locality, it does not follow that such a scheme should be developed in another locality. There are undoubtedly certain parts of the country where the horse-breeding industry is more important than in others. But, taking the country as a whole and the economy as a whole, the people of this country recognise the value of the bloodstock industry. They recognise its value to the national economy. They recognise the prestige which this country obtains through its horses and through its riders. That prestige is based on solid foundations.
On many occasions in recent years we have heard the word prestige abused. We have seen all sorts of unsound efforts made to achieve prestige in spheres in which we cannot compete. We are competing in this sphere as masters and as those who have over the years succeeded in attaining a reputation unsurpassed by any other country, and one which has not only attracted to his country many people anxious to invest money here but has also resulted in great numbers of our own people developing and extending their interest in this industry because of its advantage to themselves, because of the employment it gives, and because of its economic strength from the point of view of the country as a whole.
I regret that in the course of this debate some references were made to individuals. Some names were introduced here yesterday, perhaps inadvertently, by Deputy M.P. Murphy, who referred to an individual he saw mentioned in a paper from which he was quoting and suggested that because that individual had an army title— and I think another title too—he had no interest in this country. I think it is only right to say that the particular individual to whom the Deputy referred has not only lived here but so have generations of his family for many years back and they have always provided good employment and are held in high repute by their neighbours and by all sections of the community and are looked upon as a family which has not only given good employment but has demonstrated its interest in the nation and in the welfare of the country as a whole.
If we have a National Stud that stud should be run on the basis of producing only the best and the best can only be achieved by endeavouring to breed along the lines that are considered by the experts to be the correct lines. If this is not the appropriate occasion I would like on some future occasion to suggest that it is time something was done to bring the control of racing within the sphere of influence of some statutory body. The racing industry is now so important it can no longer be left in the control of individuals who have no particular claim to the exercise of that control and many of whom have no status from the point of view of the national interest.
The Racing Board was established to deal with certain aspects of the racing industry. The time has arrived when full control over that industry should be exercised by a statutory body appointed for that purpose. The introduction of this Bill gives us an opportunity of expressing the view that it is time in the national interest that some of those who control racing here should be replaced by those who have the interests of the nation at heart and the interests of the country as a whole.
The importance of the racing industry is now so great that the timehas come when the old-time control and the old-time responsibility must be replaced by a body having certain defined responsibilities under statute. So important is the industry now that it is essential that it should be directed along the right lines and that those who so direct it must have not only the confidence of those earning their livelihood in it but the confidence of the people as well.
I hope that the purchase of this horse will be followed by the same success at stud as the horse has had on the racecourse. Deputy Dillon expressed the hope yesterday that this horse would not be run again this year. I agree with Deputy Dillon in that. It is, I admit, a matter for the National Stud, and it is they who will have the task of deciding that matter in view of the fact that many arrangements have already been made for the coming season between the owners of mares and stallions. It is worthy of note that a great many successful sires were never raced. It is also worthy of note that some horses that had during their racing careers very hard races indeed were subsequently a failure at stud. The converse is also true. This horse has achieved on the racecourse everything that was expected of him. He has done everything that enabled him to achieve the reputation that he has to-day. Any further racing may involve the risk of tarnishing his already high reputation. I take it the directors will decide in the light of their mature judgment and consideration.
The proposal to expend this sum on the purchase of one animal will not, of course, prevent more money being provided in the future for other purposes. The importance of the industry and its value to the country places on the directors of the National Stud the responsibility of ensuring that the best will always be provided whenever it is available for the use of breeders here so that our reputation may be maintained throughout the world.
