“Serious Shortage” Of Veterinarians In N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 14

“Serious Shortage” Of Veterinarians In N.Z.

There was a serious shortage of veterinarians in New Zealand, said the chief executive officer of the Veterinary Services Council (Mr B. G. Johnston) at the conference of South Island Veterinary Clubs in Christchurch yesterday. The council had at least 30 vacancies and he understood that the Department of Agriculture had 28 vacancies, said Mr Johnston. Positions had been advertised in overseas newspapers but the response had not been very satisfactory. . The question of subsidies to veterinary clubs was under consideration, said Mr Johnston. The council hoped that all clubs in time would become self supporting, but the smaller clubs which were undergoing financial difficulties would still get a grant from the council. Applications for bursaries to attend the veterinary college at Sydney University had been in excess of the number of bursaries available, said Mr Johnston. The rise in the value of the bursaries had been welcomed by the students and he did not expect there would be a repetition of the complaints last year 1 that the bursaries were not enough to live on. For the first time the Department of Agriculture had granted bursaries and this was a most welcome innovation. Sabridiea to Clnbs The question of subsidies to veterinary clubs was under consideration. said Mr Johnston. The council hoped that all clubs in time would become self supporting, but the smaller duba which were under financial difficulties would still get a grant from the council. Mr Van der Wouden (Banks Peninsula) asked that the council give an assurance that veterinarians who were working in districts that had economic difficulties would be guaranteed safety of employment and that no stigma would attach to their professional reputation if they had to leave the district Mr Johnston said he was sure no stigma would lie with a veterinarian who had to find another job because the club which employed him was in financial difficulties. Also grants would be made to a club in that situation. The diagnostic station at Taieri

was not functioning yet, said Mr Johnston, replying to a suggestion that another diagnostic station be established in the South Island. He understood that as soon as another two staff positions were filled it would begin to operate. Mr R. M. Baxter (Artburton) said it would be better for farmers if, rather than another diagnostic station, 8 research centre was established at Lincoln College. FjtaMcl were more interested in how to prevent animal deaths than in knowing what they died from. The present diagnostic station at Taieri had come from the persistence of the clubs in panning the suggestions made at the conferences, said Mr P. S. BonHant (Artburton). If members wanted any further facilities in the South Island they would have to be equally persistent