VETERINARY ASSOCIATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 72, 17 March 1914, Page 3

VETERINARY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Clutha Veterinary Association was held in the County Chambers on Friday afternoon, the chairman (Mr J. Smith) occupying the chair, and there were about thirty other members present. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report and balance-sheet, which had been posted to members a week previously, were taken as read. The report was as follows: Your directors, in presenting the bal-ance-sheet for the year ending January ;!1, 1914, have mil eh pleasure in reporting that the Association has had a very satisfactory year, as shown by the bal-ance-sheet, there being a credit balance at the bank of £242 18s Id, after all working expenses and salaries being paid for the year. The assets of the association amount to £485 12s Id, and liabilities nil. Thp outstanding visits at .January 31, 1014, amounted to £205 14s 6d, against £152 lis 8d the previous year, which shows an increase of £53 2s l.Od. The outstanding subscriptions to January 3.1, 1014, amount to £2l 10s Cd, as against £lfi 8s for the previous year —a slight increase also, but taking into consideration the tightness of money during the year, combined with the exceptionally bad season, the above figures may be taken as very satisfactory. The receipts for the 12 months ending January HI, 1014, amount to £759 0s 9d, and the expenditure £832 5s 4d (which includes the surgeon's bonus of £316 for last year), and with the credit balance of £316 2s 8d brought forward from last year leaves a credit balance of £242 I,Bs Id, as per bank book. The membership at the close of the year, after allowing for members resigning through leaving the district, was 426, as against 400 at end of the previous year The directors again wish to place on record'the appreciation of the association's surgeon, whose services are readily sought for, which is clearly shown by the increasing membership each year.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said there was not. much to say, except, to congratulate themselves on the way the society was going ahead. For that they had to thank the men who started the society and carried it on on the right lines. They all know that at the start there was much anxiety as to how they .were to pay the surgeon's salary of £BOO. That'was all altered now. They had in Mr Danskin the best man in the Dominion for their needs, and Mr Smith hoped that the society would long keep him. Last year the veterinary surgeon got a bonus of £.'!oo, and this year £242 (the credit balance for the year, which was handed over to the vet. as a bonus). Mr Smith then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. This was seconded by Mr .1. Gordon and adopted without discussion. MEMBERSHIP FEES. Mr MeKenzic (Waiwera) asked if it was intended to raise members' guarantee according to new valuation of farms.

The Chairman said that that matter had not been discussed by the committee.

Mr King: The society does not need to raise the guarantee, as it has plenty of money to carry on with. The Chairman said that £2 in membership fee was a cheap insurance. He thought it would lead to confusion if the guarantee was made according to property valuations. Mr B. Moffat, one of the directors, said that it had never been proposed by the directors to revise the guarantees according to new valuations, and if the question had not been brought up at the meeting it would never have been thought of. Nearly nil farmers were members of the society, and any aew farmers towing to the district could take over the previous holder 'a member, ship. The society was now la a sound position, and it would hot b<i iieuessary to make alterations.

Mr Keys said thai; it would cause a lot of trouble if guarantees were periodically altered according to revised valuations of county Tidings. Mr E. H. King considered that any new man coming to the district and wishing to join the society should have the opportunity of doing so at membership according to the previous member's. This matter then dropped, the chairman saying he was glad to hear the expressions of opinion. SURGEON'S HOLIDAYS.

A member asked if a relief could be obtained while Mr Danskiu was away for his annual holidays. Mr King said that it was absolutely necessary that Mr Danskiu should get a holiday like any other man, but he thought a relieving surgeon should be appointed,for the time he was away. He instanced a case where he had written two letters to the surgeon, and not getting an acknowledgment became uneasy until he heard that Mr Danskin was away on holidays.

Mr E. Moffat said that it was the custom to advertise a fortnight previous that the surgeon was going on holidays. Mr T. Johnston questioned if it would be practicable to get a substitute for the holidays, as a stranger, not knowing the district, would not be able to expeditiously respond to calls; also there would be a doubt about always getting a relieving veterinary surgeon. Mr E. Moffat said that he thought Mr p>nsk»'a idea, *& $g t|s §o;<

veterinary surgeon should be procured in urgent cases during his absence on holidays. It could be notified that all communications during Mr Danskin's absence should be addressed to the secretary.

The Chairman: We will try what we can do. I am sure Mr Danskin will be only too glad to help us in the matter. Mr King moved that this matter be left in the directors' hands to make the best arrangements they can.—Seconded by Mr Keys and carried. RE-ELECTIONS. According to the rules of the association Messrs Jas. Smith and John Gordon retired from the directorate. They offered themselves for re-election, and there being no other nominations they were re-elected on the motion of Mr King, seconded by Mr A. Moffat.—Mr Smith, in returning thanks, said that there was little work devolving 0 n the directors now, as things w-ent on very smoothly. Mr 6. 11. Waymouth was re-elected treasurer and Mr .1. 0. Mitchell auditor. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.