FARM INSTRUCTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18764, 22 July 1935, Page 11

FARM INSTRUCTION

PLAN CRITICISED “LAYMEN AS INSPECTORS” The Dairy Board’s proposal for Ihe expenditure of £35,000 a year on farm dairy instruction, with the appointment of nearly 100 dairy inspectors, was strongly criticised ny Mr. A. Leslie, F.R.C.V.S., head of the Veterinary Department at Canterbury Agricultural College. “This idea of putting on 100 inspectors will not be in tho interests ol the farmer,” said Mr. Leslie, “because they will not be sufficiently qualified to he of reai service. “I believe that the time is now -.ine n New Zealand to do away with stock inspectors. At tho moment thene are between 70 and SO of these, and I think that we should nla:e veterinary cientists in their positions.'’ f If the veterinary officers replaced the State inspectors, acting as part tune instructors, the farmeis w.nnd have men fully qualified in farm management as well as scientists capable of detecting livestock diseases. At the present time this service was lacking in New Zealand. In practically all other producing countries the veterinary profession took a very active part in dairy inspection, but in New Zealand, particularly* in the butter-fat producing areas, the inspection was very weak. There were so few veterinary experts that this important feature of the country’s production was left in the hands of laymen.