N.Z. VETERINARY SCHOOL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 9

N.Z. VETERINARY SCHOOL

NO ENROLMENTS FOR 1907 COURSE

EARLY OTAGO SCHEME RECALLED

The Senate of the University of New Zealand has decided that steps should be taken to establish a veterinary school in New Zealand as soon as possible. Almost 50 years ago when the council of the University of Otago invited enrolments for the opening session in 1907 of a veterinary school attached to the University, no students offered themselves. The committee of the Senate which has recently been studying veterinary education in New Zealand reported that to establish a veterinary school “somewhere from nothing” would cost about £250,000 and annual maintenance costs would amount to £50,000. The Pro-Chancellor of the University, Mr L. J. Wild, explained that if ex.isting facilities were used the cost might conceivably be less, but in 1906 it was estimated that the annual operating costs of a school at Dunedin would amount to only about £l5OO and the cost of the buildings required to establish the school initially would be only £2500. The establishment of a school attached to the University of Otago was first proposed in 1904 at a time when the Government was beginning to press for specialisation in university colleges. The Prime minister, Mr Seddon, expressed his concurrence' with the proposal and offered on be? half of the Government to grant the necessary assistance.

In June of that year the university council set up a sub-committee which drew up a scheme for the operation of a school, but then the idea lapsed until August, 1906, when it was moved in the council that the Government should be asked to agree to the establishment of a veterinary school and to authorise the University of Otago to take the neccessary steps for the immediate enrolment of veterinary students. In December, 1906, the council sent a scheme to the Minister iof Lands. In this the council said that for the first year of the veterinary course the university would be able to provide all the required teaching from its existing staff, but in the second and third years a professor would have to be appointed. As soon as an infirmary or hospital was erected it would also be necessary to have a groom and a hospital surgeon. The estimated annual cost of the staff was: two professors at £6OO each, a groom at £l2O, and a hospital surgeon at £lso—a total of £1470. A sum would also be required for laboratory expenses and appliances. The cost of upkeep would amount to about £lOO. The buildings required would be: one lecture room, a professor’s room, a residence for the groom besides loose boxes for the horses and dogs, a dissecting room and a museum for specimens—a total cost of £2500. Course Too Severe The scheme of study suggested by the council provided for « four years’ course, with matriculation as a condition of entrance, and leading to the degree of bachelor of science. * In his book, “A History of the University of Otago,” Dr. G. E. Thompson says it was soon found that this sort of course was too severe for the class of men whom it was expected would form the bulk of students. One of the reasons actuating the Government at the beginning of the negotiations for a school at Otago had been the need to provide scientific training for stock inspectors and other officials of the Department of Lands and Agriculture. A* full four years’ degree course adapted for veterinary surgeons was more than was required for the training of stock inspectors. The result was that when the council invited students for the session of 1907 none offered themselves. In 1909 the Minister of Lands wrote to the council saying that he feared that if the educational course was as exacting as that proposed by the council there would be little prospect of colonial youths availing themselves of it. The Government, he said, could find openings for veterinary surgeons to any number, but he could not see his way to call upon stock inspectors to qualify as veterinary surgeons at that stage. The council therefore decided to arrange an abridged course for stock inspectors ocbupying two years and leading to qualification for a certificate in animal hygiene. The Minister promised to make a regulation requiring that all stock inspectors appointed in future would be drawn from students who had undergone instruction in animal hygiene. In June, 1909, the Government authorised a grant of £3OOO for buildings, and an annual grant of £ 1200 was promised for the maintenance of the school. The council of the university subsequently decided to prepare . fresh plans and make new arrangements for the appointment of teachers, but the selection of a suitable site for the school and lack of finance proved serious obstacles to the plan. With its many and varied activities within the university, the council found it could not find sufficient funds to supplement the Government grant to the required students, so It was decided that no further steps should be taken until the Government provided all the funds necessary for equipment and maintenance. . . In 1912 the Minister of Education promised that if the council found a suitable site for the school at a reasonable price he would recommend the Government to purchase it and provide sufficient money to finance the school. In 1914 the council submitted to the minister a site it considered admirable for the purpose, but the outbreak of World War I put an end to the negotiations.