NOT ADEQUATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 14

NOT ADEQUATE.

HELP FOR FARMERS.

VETERINARY SERVICES. CLAIM FOR INSTRUCTORS. (I?}- Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. A vigorous protest at t lie inadequacy of the present Government veterinary services in Taranaki was made at the monthly meeting to-day of the North Taranaki Farmers' Union. The suggestion was ntade that veterinary instructors should be appointed to assist farmers to deal with those problems which are considered to be the biggest they have to face to-day. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Leo Martin, advised that it was not considered necessary again to open the veterinary laboratory a.t New Plymouth. A Government veterinarian is stationed at Stratford and is in close touch with the Waliaceville laboratory and is available to assist farmers as far as possible with stock troubles.

ill-. T. Murray (Stratford) stated that the veterinary officer in Stratford was not available to farmers except in some eases that interested him in his work. He was unable to visit a farm until an animal was dead. Mr. H. Hunt (Stratford) confirmed this, stating that a farmer could interview the officer at his office, but had 110 right, to get him to go on to his farm. If there was any disease involved he would go. "The day has arrived when instead of having farm.instructors there should lie veterinary instructors," said Mr. Murray. He considered that farmers had passed the stage of farm instruction, which was the baby stage of farming. Instead of the Government going into the question of appointing farm instructors he thought veterinary instructors should be appointed. The biggest problems of the farmer to-day were veterinary problems and mammitis was the chief trouble "to be faced. Mr. Murray suggested that farmers could pay a fair share to provide for the employment of these men. A small levy on butterfat would not cost more than a small subsidy to have three men in Taranaki. The secretary was instructed to write the Minister and point out the difficulties of the present state of affairs, outline suggestions made at the meeting for improvement and ask for his opinion 011 the subject.