TRAINING OUR OWN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 267, 4 August 1908, Page 7

TRAINING OUR OWN.

T _ ( THE VETERINARY QUESTION. REQUESTS FOR A SCHOOL. Arguments in favour of the Veterinary School at Dunedin wero placed before the Hon. R: M'Nab. and the Hon. G. Fowlds, by a large, deputation yesterday, introduced by Mr. James Allen, M.P. Mr. Allen said the Otago members of Parliament wero very anxious to liavo tho school established. The time had come when tho Dominion should train its> own veterinarians and tho University would do all it could to establish tho school on a soundbasis.

The Hon. Mr. Duncan supported the proposal. It cost a lot of money' to bring veterinarians out. from England. Our own men would bo more likely to stop with us and they would, he thought, give good value to tlio country. Mr. Sidoy said the matter had already, been put before tho Government' very 1 fully by letter. The deputation wanted, to emphasise tho necessity of carrying out these proposals. At puo time there aid not appear to bo a chance of ■ getting many students as the proßpect did not seom sufficiently attractive. . .Sinco then, however, there had.'beeri a suggestion, of a subsidiary course suitable for. stock inspectors and a probability of an increase m the pay of veterinarians and inspectors, and there was. a greater probability now that there would be a good .number of students' especially if tho Government gavo a guarantee that they would talto their men from the school.

Mr. Parata on behalf of the Maori peoplo supported the proposal. Tliero were some young Maoris who wero anxious to avail themselves of tho bourse.

Mr. Fowlds in reply said the Government wero quite alive to thfr importance of establishing a Veterinary School in connection with the Otago University College. In the first instance the application from students was nil and it therefore appeared to llirn that it was necessary to give the whole subject reconsideration. For that reason tho Government had withdrawn the authority for the establishment of the school and had proceeded later on to negotiate on the basis of including along with tho degree a subsidiary' course suitable for inspectors. The Council's letter of 'April 10 had been recoiving consideration, and the Government wero now in a position to- deal with it at an early date. No doubt with tho fresh information the Government now had and the advantage to be gained from- a subsidiary course there was no doubt they would bo proparcd to authorise the starting of the school. (Hear, hoar.) Thero wero one or two other matters that required consideration. Ono was as to how far tho Agricultural Department could guarantee employment to those taking tho degreo course. Ho understood Mr, .M'Nab was propared to submit-proposals to the Government that would be quite satisfactory from. tho students point of.view. The subsidiary course for inspectors they looked upon as a Very important mattor, Thero woro a few preliminaries in .connection with .that matter still to bo decided upon. . Mr. M'Nab, who was-presont, said that bo far as the.Agricultural Department was concerned the intention was that after the veterinary school got into working order and was turning out qualified mon, the Department would tako all its mon from tho school unless it could not provide sufficient for its wants. In other words, the Department wouia select men from New Zealand rathor than send Homo for them. Sending to the Homo Country was a. very costly business, and in some ca.ses unsatisfactory. Tho Government hoped to bo ablo to tako tho first ten mon. who passed, but thoy might not bo able to absorb tlieln at onca Ho hoped, howovcr, to giv'o a guarantee that thoy would bo absorbed within eighteen months or two yoars..' Ho hoped also to fix the minimum payment at £300 a .voar, but lie was not in a position to sottlo that point yot, In rogard to inspectors, ho was suggesting to ]iis colloapuos that arrangements should be made with the University to commence that courso when called upon to do so. Tho Government could thon lay down the tornis on which tho mon should bo received. That matter could bo postponed in tho meantime so that it need -not delay tho starting of the veterinary courso. Mr. Jumos Allen, in thanking Ministers, said their replies woro very satisfactory, and whatever the University could do to "assist it would do.