STOCK INSPECTORS’ DUTIES

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 10

STOCK INSPECTORS’ DUTIES

NOT VETERINARY SURGEONS. OPERATION OF ECONOMY AXE. The position of stock inspectors of the Agricultural Department as regards work of a veterinary nature on the ailing stock of the farmer was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the provincial executive i of the South Taranaki Farmers’ Union at Hawera. The question was raised by Mr. .E. J. Booth on behalf of an Okaiawa .farmer, who had asked the local inspector to make the trip to his farm to see a sick animal. The inspector had pointed out that the work was of a veterinary nature and beyond, his sphere of duty. Mr. Booth said he had been asked the position of the stock inspectors and hadgone into the matter. He proceeded to tell the meeting what he had found out and invited discussion upon the subject. It appeared, said Mr. Booth, .that the duty of the men was more concerned with the inspection of malignant and infectious diseases and abattoirs. In the past they had been permitted to do alt within their power for the farmer whose stock suffered, but the necessity for economy had done away with all this.

Mr. C. J. Harris, organiser' for the union, who was present at the meeting, said that the question had been thoroughly gone into by the North Taranaki branch. The men in question were appointed primarily in case of infectious diseases. Years ago, when there had not been sufficient veterinary surgeons to serve the farming community, the Government, had, as a matter of courtesy, permitted, its men to go out and help the farmer in trouble. Conditions had changed somewhat since that time and, as a matter of economy, the Government had necessarily informed its men to cut down their visits as much as possible. The chairman, Mr. E. J. Betts, said that that was the position and the meeting could do nothing. It .would be just as well if the farmers realised, the position. They had been asking for economy, and rightly so, and it seemed that they were getting what they wanted. . q “But,” continued Mr. Betts, “I feci that if we had a bigger attendance at these meetings we could get qualified men to address us on the care and treatment of, for instance, cows which become sick after calving. Many farmers know little of the correct treatment of the different ailments.”

Mr. H. R. Denize, of the Department of Agriculture, later explained to the meeting the position of the stock inspectors. The whole crux of the matter was to be found in the urgent necessity for economy. In the past the department had given very freely of its services in every district, but these had been cut down over the last year. A number of farmers looked to the department. to supply free veterinary service and regarded the members of the Stock Department as. veterinary surgeons. Such malignant diseases as were reported to the department were, of course,' attended to, for that, together with the inspection of abattoirs and dairies supplying town runs, was inelud- >’ in the list of official duties. With definite instructions to cut down expenses, unofficial business such as free veterinary work, was the first to go. That was the position as far as the stock inspectors were concerned.