New Superintendent At Wallaceville Appointed

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28750, 22 November 1958, Page 15

New Superintendent At Wallaceville Appointed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. Dr. M. B. Buddle, senior veterinary research officer, at the Department of Agriculture’s animal research station, Wallaceville, has been appointed superintendent of the station. Dr. Buddle succeeds Dr. I. J. Cunningham, who became assistant Director-General of Agriculture on the appointment of Mr P. W. Smallfield as Director-General of the department. Dr. Buddle, whose appointment was announced today, has an international reputation in research and has made outstanding contributions in the field of microbiology and animal disease. Born in 1914, in Australia,,Dr. Buddle graduated with honours in 1936. He did bacteriological research at the McMaster Institute for a year and joined the Department of Agriculture in January, 1938. He was awarded his doctorate in science by the University of New Zealand in 1956 for a thesis describing outstanding work on a family of bacteria of which he discovered a new member. His work on vaccines has gained widespread recognition and the development and use of vaccines resulting from his investigations have resulted in marked decreases in the incidence of and losses from several of the major livestock diseases in New Zealand. His application of a vaccine to the control of contagious abortion in cattle was a major contribution to the dairy industry. After perfecting a technique for its preparation at Wallaceville, he visited Australia in 1944 to arrange for its pro-

duction on a scale to meet the demand its successful use in the industry had created. To study developments in the investigation of contagious abortion in particular, and of other bacterial diseases of livestock. Dr. Buddle visited research institutions in the United States. Canada, and Britain in 1946. He was awarded the first Underwood Fellowship granted by the British Agricultural Research Council, which enabled him to undertake a year’s research at the University of Cambridge on causes of one of ■ the genital diseases in sheep. His work in Britain was of great, value to the livestock industry of i New Zealand, as he was able to I study some of New Zealand’s im- j portant animal disease problems | in consultation with overseas; bacteriological experts. For the last five years. Dr. Buddle has been leader of a section at Wallaceville engaged • in research projects on bacteria causing animal diseases. He has directed investigations into blackleg and pulpy kidney of sheep and cattle, contagious abortion of cattle. epididymitis of rams, mastitis. Johne’s disease and salmonellosis.

Witnesses Sought.—Witnesses to a fatal accident in Pages road at, 8.30 p.m. on November 11 are. sought by the motor accidents branch of the Central Police Station. “Any person who witnessed the accident, in which a cyclist was killed, are asked to communicate with this branch.”! said a spokesman for the motor! accidents branch.