STOCK INSPECTOR IS THANKED FOR WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18985, 3 February 1930, Page 10

STOCK INSPECTOR IS THANKED FOR WORK.

CITY DAIRYMEN GATHER AT SATURDAY FUNCTION.

Over one hundred dairymen met in the Automobile Association’s rooms on Saturday evening for the purpose of saying farewell to Mr B. Grant, who for sixteen years has been chief inspector of stock and dairies for Christchurch. Mr Grant has been transferred on promotion to Palmerston North and leaves shortly to take up his new duties.

The farewell took the form of a smoke concert, over which Mr R. K. Todhunter presided. Mr J. Parlane, in proposing the toast of “ Our Guest,” said he was sure he was voicing the opinion of every dairyman of Christchurch when he said that Mr Grant had done his duty to his Department and to the dairymen of the city. The health of Christchurch had shown a great improvement in the time he had been inspector. Certainly a great improvement had taken place in the standard of the herds. Everything had been brought up to date by his supervision. He had done his duty in so tactful and gentlemanly a way that no one had been able to refuse a request from him. Mr Parlane called on Dr A. B. Pearson, who, over a period of ten months, has conducted a bacteriological examination of the city’s milk. Dr Pearson traced the improvement in the city’s milk supply, which began fifteen years ago, and said that the milk was now of a very high standard of purity. This was due to the Agricultural Department in general, and to Mr Grant in particular. He wished Mr Grant every success in his future, and expressed the hope that he would soon be back in Christchurch. Mr Allan Matson, on behalf of the auctioneers, said that Mr Grant had left a mark in Canterbury that would never be obliterated. He was one of nature’s gentlemen. They trusted that they would shortly see him back, and wished himself and his family every success.

Mr Parlane then presented Mr Grant with a handsome grandfather clock with Westminster chimes, suitably engraved. and a set of selverware for Mrs Grant.

Mr Grant, on rising to reply, was greeted with loud applause. lie said he had always done his best for the dairymen. He had felt like a fish out of water when he first arrived, but as he became known his work became a pleasure. Many people regarded an inspector as the epitome of officialdom, but he had never looked at it in that light. It was his endeavour to point out the right way. Dairymen had always met him in a most reasonable and obliging manner. One of the main essentials of their business was clean, healthy cows. When he first came to Christchurch, it was a frequent matter for him to reject three and four cows in a herd of thirteen or so showing tubercular signs. Things had gradually improved. Systematic testing had been introduced among the 600 suppliers and the 6000 cows supplying Christchurch. The public of Christchurch did not realise what a good milk supply they had. In the systematic testing, particular attention had to be paid to small herds. In the first year only 700 cows were tested, and the percentage of rejects had been high. This year over 3000 cows had been tested, “and the percentage of disease had been very small. There was not more than 2 per cent of general reaction, whereas there had been as much as 14 per cent. Clean dirt ” would not hurt anyone, but clean herds were essential. When the speaker came to the city, he could have counted on one of his hands the number of concreted yards. Now he could count on one hand those suppliers who now did not have concreted yards. There had been no coercion needed. During the last seven or eight years, new sheds had been built, proper drains put in and other improvements made. Had he been here for another two or three years, he would have been able to say that there were absolutely clean herds supplying Christchurch, such as even now no other place in Australia or New Zealand could boast. It was a great satisfaction to know that the dairies had been brought up to their present standard. He sincerely hoped that the testing would not be allowed to stop. Even if they stood still, it would not be in their own interests. (Applause.)