S.I. DIAGNOSTIC STATION

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 3

S.I. DIAGNOSTIC STATION

“Buck Passing By Government” “It seems to me that the politicians of today, and indeed the parties of today, are tbo intent on gaining power and holding it - rather than working in the best interests of New Zealand as a whole,” said Mr A. C. Wright, chairman of the North Canterbury provincial district meat and wool section of Federated Farmers at the annual conference of the section yesterday. Mr Wright was comi..enting on the failure of the Government to have established a diagnostic station for the South Island. Every endeavour had been made in the last year to reach some finality but no success had been achieved, he , said. “When you realise that it would ; only require approximately £2OOO plus the engaging of staff and pay- 1 ing their salaries to set a station in motion at Lincoln College, which would serve the northern half of the South Island and so relieve the pressure at Wallaceville, it seems incomprehensible. “I shudder to think what would be the position of the whole of the South Island if we were to have an outbreak of mucosal or some other disease, with our inherent delays of a diagnosis from the North Island,” he said. Tracing the history of the movies to establish a diagnostic station in the South Island, Mr Wright said that every year since 1951 the South Island Veterinary Clubs’ conference had passed a motion that a diagnostic station be set up at Lincoln College. He gave details of the various moves which had been made by various bodies. “I need hardly remind you that there are two Government-spon-sored and controlled stations in the North Island. Gentlemen, this is the biggest piece of political ‘buck passing’ by both this Government and the last that you are likely to witness,” Mr Wright said. Election of Officers Mr A. C. Wright, of Dunsandel, was re-elected unopposed as chairman of the provincial section for ■ the fourth successive year. The ■ vice-chairman, Mr R. E. Hiatt, of 1 the Amuri branch, was also re- ■ elected. i The following delegates were 1 appointed:—Provincial conference 'of Federated Farmers, Messrs • Wright, Hiatt, R. H. Bedford and ’ R. D. Gould; Dominion meat and • wool section conference, Messrs ’ Wright, Hiatt and T. G. Maxwell; ’ Dominion meat and wool section r council, Mr Wright; provincial 5 executive, Messrs Wright and 1 Hiatt.