VETERINARY CLUBS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 6

VETERINARY CLUBS

BENEFITS TO FARMERS EMPHASISED NEW ZEALANDERS TRAINING AT SYDNEY From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, July 14. “I am sure the extension of the veterinary club movement will be the biggest fillip given to the livestock industry in its history,” said Mr A. Leslie, who is chief veterinary executive officer of the New Zealand Veterinary Services Council, speaking to about 40 farmers at Temuka this evening. “A disease-free community,” was the club outlook for the future, he said. Though it was recognised that cure was important, the'point of representations made to the veterinary committee set up oy the Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L. Cullen) and the idea behind the council was to have men who could educate people in sound breeding, management, and feeding.

Within a period of about four years, with about 76 men now training in veterinary science at Sydney, there would be sufficient officers to service the whole of the country. About 11 years ago there were only three or four clubs in New Zealand, continued Mr Leslie, but to-day there were about 55.

The first group of New Zealanders trained in Sydney had graduated at the end of last year. Those trained under bursaries provided by the Veterinary Services Council were required to give five years’ service at the completion of their course, and to repay part of the bursary of £2lO a year for four years, at the end of four years, while rehabilitation trainees were required only to practise their profession in any direction that they desired. Mr Leslie expressed satisfaction with the calibre of New Zealand trainees.

The council, which had been set up to administer the Veterinary Services Act. had available about £lOO.OOO, comprising about £50.000 contributed by the Meat. Wool, and Dairy Boards, and a £ for £ subsidy provided by the Government. After providing bursaries ' for training officers, and for post-graduate training, the surplus was used to stabilise clubs, to which a subsidy of £4OO was paid for each veterinarian employed. The council had decided that the best means of giving the country a veterinary service was through the club movement, in preference to private practice. It was considered that private initiative was not curbed in the club movement, an officer being given an area in which he could improve the health of stock. It was not necessarv for disease to exist for a club to thrive. At the conclusion of the address, it was decided to ask the South Canterbury provincial meat. wool, and dairy sections of Federated Farmers to discuss with dairy comnany executives the formation of a club in South Canterbury.