VETERINARY SURGEONS WANTED.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11725, 28 October 1903, Page 6

VETERINARY SURGEONS WANTED.

With the increasingly strict requirements of the dairy and stock regulations, the necessity for a better veterinary service is being forced upon the farmers of the colony. As matters are at present there is considerable room for improvement. It seemed a few years ago as if the Agricultural Department would be able to accomplish something in this direction, but the stall engaged lias since been for the most part either detailed for the inspection of meat at abattoirs, or driven out of tho service by the poorness of their pay. Those who are not thus accounted for are so fully employed in investigation and laboratory M’ork that they are unable to do much in the May of practice. The stock inspectors and agents might naturally be* expected to fill the breach, but we know that they cannot do so. Some of them, it is true, are experienced and capable men, whose services are of considerable value to stockowners, but the remainder—and probably the majority—are practically useless fro;n a veterinary point of view. Under the circumstances it could not well be otherwise. There are no facilities in the colony for acquiring a knowledge of veterinary science, and if there were, the Government does not encourage its servants so to equip themselves. The trouble is a pressing one for the stockowners. Qualified surgeons are being allow'ed to leave the colony, and at the same time farmers are being victimised by utterly unqualified men whom the law allows, if they choose, to use the letters M.R.C.V.S. after their names. We do .lot consider these letters are necessary for the making of a good veterinarian; but they are a guarantee of recognised qualifications, and it is a serious matter if any unqualified person is to be allowed to use them, and so mislead the public. The solution of the difficulty does not appear to be very near at hand. The Farmers’ has expressed a strong opinion on the subject, and is to be commended for taking energetic steps to supply the wants of the colony. Several of the districts have already arranged for the services of a resident veterinarian, and the Colonial Executive has drawn up a scheme for appointing thirty surgeons for the whole colony. The difficulty is to get suitable .men. Members of the Royal College are, of course, thoroughly qualified surgeons, but experience has shown that imported men are handicapped for a year or two by lack of knoudedge of colonial conditions. There are difficulties in the way of giving really efficient training in the colony. The Premier's suggestion that it should be carried out at Lincolu College was found 'impracticable on the ground of expense. This would be the phief objection to the foundation of a special college. Such a college lias existed in Melbourne for many years, and has turned out many good men. The course is a four years one, based on tho curriculum of the Royal College. In spite of this the Melbourne College has been unsuccessful in repeated efforts to get its diplomas recognised by the Royal College. France and Germany have also , declined to recognise the Victorian qualification. There Ls, therefore, not much inducement for the establishment of a college in New Zealand, for it would mean that the graduates of such a college would be restricted to practise in this country. The colony is only able to support a limited number of veterinarians, and a college would turn these out in perhaps one or two years after the course was first completed. Then year after year there would be a nerv crop of students graduating with no hope of employment in this country, and rio recognition for their qualifications elsewhere. . j

These facts alone seem sufficient to prevent the establishment of a veterinary college in New Zealand. The only alternative seems to be to make the best of the means at our disposal. The Farmers’ Union deserves every credit for its action in the matter, and it is to bo hoped it will he successful in getting the men required. But this does not absolve tne Government from its duty. It has at different times, at great cost to the colony, imported first-class men for the veterinary service. Instead of keeping them by paying reasonable salaries, it has starved several of them out of the service one by one. Those who remain, to judge by Mr Gilrutli’s reports, are not at all satisfied, and are probably only awaiting an opportunity to leave. The position is altogether wiuout excuse. New Zealand has, fortunately, been fairly free from serious stock diseases, and it should be the aim of the Government to keep it so. This can only be done

j j by keeping an efficient veterinary staff to investigate the causes of epidemics, umt carrying out their recommendations. Mr. Gilruth, with a view to relieving the situation, has been endeavouring to arrange for tho training of men for inspection work at the abattoirs, and there seems to be a prospect of this being carried out. Pro. vision is being made at- the new agricjb'v' turul laboratory at Wallaceville fur the accommodation of cadets for this purpose. I If this scheme is carried out, it should enable some of the veterinary surgeons to attend to the general veterinary work J. the department. If the Government,Mould only show themselves as earnest in tho matter as the Farmers’ Union evidently' is. there would soon be no cause fur anxiety or complaint.