VETERINARY SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 261, 28 July 1908, Page 3

VETERINARY SCHOOL.

TO TRAIN MEN FOR GOVERNMENT ■'SERVICE. . ; | . A\COURSE FOR INSPECTORS. | ,At a -meeting of Otago members pf Parliament,. convened by Mr. Jas. Allen,, and held , yesterday-morning,'matters relating to tho proposed veterinary-school were discussed./

Mr.'Allen mentioned that in regard to the veterinary .school,' they had been negotiating, with the Government, which had —rather Unwisely, ho thought—transferred its control fro;n the Agricultural Department to the Education Department. Hr. Hogben, In-spector-Genoral sto tho latter Department, had' risked Dunedin, and had told them, what the ' Government: would' roquire. The requirements were ,sot forth in a letter from Mr. Ilosben to tho Council. :

, In. this. commuriication tlio Inspector-Gen-eral asked whether the . Otago University was w'ijling to : establish such a school; whether ■ tho 'University] would establish, as soon as possible, a'subsidiary course of veterinary, training suitable for Inspectors of the Agricultural Dopaitment, and what tlio length' of the course, woidd be; what, assistance the University would require. from the Government; what/ preliminary examination .or.other: entrance .requirements, tho University would','expect from students attending •the subsidiary.course.. , . Mr. Allen added .that an ; effort had. been, made, to get students, butlthey could.not get many entrants, unless there'was'some guarantee that' the "Government were. prepared to ..take'all their; men from the school. It. also, seemed necessary to provide a subsidiary course- such as might not .bo suitable fur yoterinary. surgeons, but would be taken by stock and agricultural inspectors. . Tho University, had. replied to Mr. Hogben's letter, stating .that it.was willing and anxious to establish a veterinary school, and find .'a .site. '-.It considered that it was , its' special duty to provide a complete course in veterinary - science, such as would be recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, but'.was prepared to establish a subsidiary course,'as desired, for Inspectors of the Agricultural Department. Tlio,Council added that in its opinion the course could not be completed in less than, nineteen months, covering two 7 winter sessions and one summer session. The subjects for the first session would be chemistry,, anatomy, and physiology; second session, botany, pliys- ■ iology, pathology, and bacteriology,'milk and mes.t inspection; third : session, pathology, diseases of animals, animal hygiene, meat and milk inspection. Somo these subjects could bo provided for with existing facilities/but it •would be necessary to provido a'-.staff sufficient for the complete veterinary course, as tho subsidiary course wpultl require, very nearly the samo teaching. The cost was estimated as follows Two professors, £1200 per annum; groom; £100 with house, cleaning, ..upkeep,-, and .insurance, £100, laboratory expenditjro and appliances, £100; total £1500. If a hospital-surgeon, as suggested by Mr. Gilruth, were required, the additional cost would be £150, making a total of £1650 per annum-. The buildings were estimated to cost £3500.' >

Continuing his remarks, Mr. Allen said there would be no use their starting a veterinary school unless thoy could start it on a sound basis. , It was obvious, however, that if a school was to be started, was the place for it", and he thought' the timb had arrived when the Dominion should prepare its own men for its own voterinarv work. The expenditure 'suggested was a paltry sum in comparison with the advantages to be gained. He suggested a deputation to the Minister on the subject: Mr. Malcolm raised the question as to the difficulty in regard to the entrance examination. On© reason why the school had failed to attract students was because tho 'matriculation examination was. too high a standard of entrance. ■ He suggested tho substitution of a sixth standard pass. . Mr. Allen thought such an entrance standard would.not be high enough toenable the students, to study for the degree. ' , .Mr. Sidoy expressed a similar opinion. Such an'entrance might be sufficient for the subsidiary-courso,. but if tho students wished to'take'their degree afterwards, they would require to pass the matriculation > examination. < ■ ■. ' ' . Mr. T.. Mackenzie said he-was willing to support tho scheme, if efte'et wai given to Mr.. Malcolm's suggestion. At all events, a seventh standard pass would be sufficient to let students. come -in. and obtain• such qualification as would enablo them to bo placed in our own country.

■"Mr. James Allen: "We cannot alter tho examination for • the veterinary degree though wo can alter the subsidiary courso in the direction of making it as easy as practicable." Tlio only condition necessary in connection with tho lattor would bo to seo that the students wore capable of taking the lectures if they entered the school. Mr. Malcolm moved: "That, the meeting recommend the Council of the Otago University to approach the New Zealand University anil ask it to'accopt a sixth standard proficiency pass as. the entrance examination for a veterinary dogreo." ■-■ Mr. J. P. Arnold said it was apparent that a larger Government grant was necessary to successfully establish the school.. When that was-secured tho entrance examination could bo settled. Eventually, Mr. Malcolm withdrew his motion, on the understanding that'tho 'question of tho entrance examination would bo subsequently discussed, and .it .was resolved that tliosi! present wait upon the Minister'with a view to having a veterinary college opened in Otago as soon as possible,