Veterinarians At Meat Works

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 12

Veterinarians At Meat Works

Sir,—What exactly do the meat works veterinarians do? Why are most of them foreigners?. What is wrong with New Zealand-trained men? Why do some of the foreign ones go under the title of doctor? Surely this is a gross misuse of this title. —Yours, etc, J.T.B.

July 1,1969. [Mr M. E. Greville, district meat inspector for the Department of Agriculture, replies: “Meat Division veterinarians are responsible for the standards of inspection, the hygiene of the product and plant, certification of meat for export, the technical training of meat inspectorate staff as major duties, and in addition, product and plant inspection of game and fish products for export. Overseas requirements are rigid and’all New Zealand’s major customers for meat and meat products demand full veterinary coverage and control at meat export slaughterhouses. The Department of Agriculture has been unable to recruit sufficient numbers of New Zealand veterinarians to implement Meat Division requirements. There is nothing wrong with New Zealand-trained men. The university degree granted by many overseas veterinary faculties is a doctorate. New South Wales has in recent times adopted the courtesy title of doctor for veterinary graduates.”]