VETERINARY SERVICE

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 161, 11 July 1939, Page 4

VETERINARY SERVICE

Proposal for Southern Hawke’s Bay

A proposal to institute a veterinary service in Southern Hawke's Bay was brought forward for discussion and then referred to a special sub-committee at the second meeting held last week of the Dairy Interests Committee set up recently under the patronage of the provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union,

Those present wore Messrs. G. A. Cammock (Kiritaki) chairman, A. C. E. Cammock (Matamau), R. C. Leaeli (Woodville), E. C. Thorburn (Matamau), W. H. Graham and J. Ross (Tataramoa), W. H. Nixon (Papatawa), A. V. Scott (Maharahara), W. McMillan (Dannevirke), N. Edwards (Tamaki), H. S. M. Quigley (secretary) and A. Kinghorn (stock inspector in an advisory capacity). The question of a veterinary servico was broached by Mr. R. C. Leach who described the former activity of a veterinary club in the Woodville area which was financed by a levy of Is per cow while the veterinary surgeon was free also to engage in private practice. The club though in recess since the retirement for health reasons of the vital practitioner had not been disbanded and he suggested it could be revived. There had been for some time no man available to assume the position but the speaker had recently heard of one available. Mr. Leach did not favour a block system of finance considering it too expensive at his estimate of Id per lb. butterfat.

The chairman suggested that the committee could well leave the matter over to see what was dono at the Woodville end and then it might be possible to cooperate.

Mr. Leach, however, doubted whether there were in Woodville at present sufficient members to promote properly the scheme.

Mr. Edwards suggested that a veterinary service could bo financed from the Farmers' Union subscriptions by setting aside say 5s in the £. The expenditure on the present organisers he considered could be diverted into this channel as their services wero really unnecessary and tho provision of a veterinary service would be a great draw for membership.

Mr. G. Cammock replied that organisers should not be necessary and under the circumstances the present subscription was scarcely adequate. Mr. Leach said it had been suggested that a group of three or more factories should engage a vet and provido his service free to suppliers and collect the fees from others. This amount he contended would largely offset the officer’s salary.

The chairman remarked that in the event of the Farmers’ Union subscription being raised they might be able to ask for the institution of such a service.

Mr. Nixon moved that a sub-commit-tee be set up to investigate the possibility of a veterinary service for Southern Hawke's Bay and to try to get tho dairy factories interested. This was carried and Messrs. Edwards, A. C. E. Cammock, A. V. Scott and W. H. Nixon were elected to the committee. Cheese Industry Welfare.

Mr. Leach, referring to tho reply of the Minister of Marketing to a recent query from the committee which has been already published, remarked that the Minister's claim that the cheese industry was not losing ground was not correct. The factory employees were continually asking for shorter hours and higher wages. The chairman said the Dairy Commission had taken as a standard for production, 50001bs. of fat per male unit, and their average cost allowance of 3.5 d per lb. was about right as the large factories were taken into consideration but ho agreed that the Minister's excuse that butter prices had exceeded expectations was not valid. A margin of 2d over the butterfat price had been promised to cheese suppliers but tho average margin was J.sßd though some factories got slightly more than 2d difference. He thought the butter price would go down rather than tho cheese fat price go up if the matter were pressed further.

Mr. McMillan considered that even wero the average margin 2d over the wholo country, Southern Hawke’s Bay factories would not show that advantage.

Mr. Leach said butter manufacture permitted the greater use of machinery and the chairman agreed stating that for a given amount of fat cheese making required three times the amount of labour.

No further action was taken. T.B. in Cows.

The position with regard to T.B. in cows was not regarded as bad in Southern Hawke's Bay, though the need for inspection was mentioned. Mr. Kinghorn advised that of 750 cows tested recently less than 2 per cent, were infected.

Mr. McMillan said he could not support any scheme unless there were somo sort of pool available for tho compensation of any farmer who might be ruined by the need for a wholesale destruction of his herd.

Mr. A. C. E. Cammock thought this difficulty would be avoided if young stock were inspected. He moved “That the Government be urged to order the testing of all dairy stock of two years of age and under for T.B. and that thereafter the age be raised one year each year." Mr. Leach said the Government could not bo expected to meet the cost of full compensation and he viewed a levy with disfavour. There were enough of these already, he said. Air. G. Cammock said the proposal |

must be contingent on full compensation, but he did not think anybody in this district would be hurt by such a scheme.

The resolution was carried unanimously and will be forwarded to the Dominion? executive of the Farmers' Union for action.