ANIMAL DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 8

ANIMAL DISEASES

School Of Veterinary Science Urged SHORTAGE OF SURGEONS The establishment of a school of veterinary science in the Dominion was urged by Mr. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu), during discussion of the Department or Agriculture estimates in the House last night." He said that having regard to. the vital part primary production and animal husbandry played in the economy of the country it was fantastically short of trained veterinarians. . , The cow population of the Dominion, said Mr. Oramf totalled 1,809,000, and the wastage amounted to 150,000, or 0 per cent., annually. The sheep losses were about the same percentage. More trained veterinary surgeons were required not only by the Department of Agriculture but by the veterinary clubs, which were doing, a splendid job throughout the country. Everywhere the clubs worked a diminution in animal diseasen had resulted. The Dominion had only 08 veterinary surgeons at present, a number totally inadequate for the requirements of the agricultural industries. They had to supervise 4,500.000 cattle and 33,000,000 sheep. The number of veterinary practitioners per million cattle and million sheep (in, parentheses) in other countries and New Zealand was as follows:—Great Britain, 348 (189); (France, 221 (362); Germany, 385 (1955); Holland, 283 (1111); Switzerland, 436 (3903); New Zealand, 15 (2,1). “These figures speak for themselves,” said Mr. Oram. “Unless it can be shown that there is a tremendous saving by sending students to study veterinary science abroad we should establish a school in this country. Our system of farming is so different from that of other countries that our students could be trained best in the Dominion.” The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash: Are the figures for Switzerland correct in respect of the sheep? Mr. Oram: Yes, they are. Mr. Nash said he questioned whether there were 3903 veterinary surgeons in Switzerland for a million sheep. On that basis it would mean that New Zealand would require 128,799 veterinarians for the country’s sheep alone, or about onetenth of the entire population. An Opposition member: The veterinarians in Switzerland look after the cattle as well.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland: Does the Minister question the figures of the member for Manawatu? Air, Nash: Yes.

Air. Holyoake (Opposition, Pahiatua): The Alinister is trifling with the House. Air. Nash: If we have to have veterinaries for cattle as well as for sheep we would all be attending to the aijimals. The Alinister added that if after the figures were properly checked it was found that New Zealand was inadequately supplied with veterinary surgeons the situation would need to be further looked into.

Fifteen veterinary surgeons in Britain had been offered positions in New Zealand, nine with veterinary clubs and six with the Department of Agriculture, stated the Alinister of Agriculture, Air. Roberts. He said there was no definite advice when they would be leaving. In addition, there were three coming from Canada, and these would be employed by veterinary clubs.