DIAGNOSTIC STATION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29444, 21 February 1961, Page 17

DIAGNOSTIC STATION

Taieri To Open On March 1

(NX. Fress AMoctatam) WELLINGTON, Feb. JO. The new veterinary dtagnoatie station established at Taieri airport would open on March 1, said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Gillespie) today. "The need for a diagnostic station in the South Island has been felt for a long time, and this is understandable when the size of the livestock population in Southland and Otago alone Is considered." said Mr Gillespie. "South of the Waitaki river there are nearly 100,000 dairy cattle, more than 200,000 beef cattle, about 12,000.000 sheep, and more than 16,000 pigs. “With the numbers of stock increasing each year the Taieri diagnostic station will therefore provide a valuable service to South Island farmers, particularly those in the most southern districts. This will relieve the strain now imposed on the Wallacevilie animal research station, though from areas close to the North Island veterinary surgeons will continue to send specimens to Wallacevilie if it is more convenient and expeditious to do so. “The Taieri diagnostic station and two other units of the Department of Agriculture—the South Island soil testing station and the Inverniay research station—will form the Taieri agriculture centre, which will be established later in the year. The resulting close association of the staff of the three units will be of considerable benefit to all.

“The South Island soil testing station was set up at Taieri last month, and the centre will be completed when new quarters are ready for the staff of the Invermay research station.”