Veterinary Club Welcomes Officer

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIII, Issue 6025, 25 September 1946, Page 2

Veterinary Club Welcomes Officer

mr. g. McDonald m.r.c.v.s.

VALUE OF THE MOVEMENT

STRESSED

Recently the general committee of the Cambridge Veterinary Club (inc.) welcomed the newly appointed senior officer, Mr G. McDonald, M.R.C., V.S. (Edinburugh) to this district. / The chairman, Mr G. A. Walsh,/fn introducing him, mentioned that/Mr McDonald had enjoyed exceptional experience during his 12 years’ residence in New Zealand and had rendered service previously in Waikato, Otago, and Rangitikei. Mr v Walsh said that the occasion was fitting to draw attention to the unique protection provided live stock J farmers by the veterinary clubs move-! ment; a voluntary organisation based on the co-operative principle, ensur-| ing an adequate and efficient service at the lowest possible cost rate. With | a universal veterinary cost structure about to be instituted by legislation j through an export levy, it behoved all! export producers to rally round the j club movement to determine its, success, check, or better still prevent any rises in the export levies. It could be accepted as an accurate statement, that veterinary clubs would be the main factor in farmers retaining some degree of control in the whole matter.

Mr McDonald, in reply, said that the direct and personal contact of club members by the officers, was a decided asset and advantage held by these associations. In the larger field covered by some of the dairy schemes, much of their activity was carried out by means of advice. As a cautious man, he would reserve any criticism until his knowledge of this district enabled him to advance constructive ideas.

Meanwhile, he could say he was pleased to come to what he had always regarded as the attractive district of Cambridge, due in great measure to his respect for the wellknown production powers of this area. Mr McDonald closed by touching on a line of thought understandable by the practical farmer; he observed that future endeavour should explore the preventative side of treatment, rather than .to await disease and then apply cures. In his experiences he had here found considerable scope for helpful work.

The question of membership then arose and the chairman pointed out that the officers had a limit to what they could do within the present provided service. While it was essential to fill the two panels as soon as possible there was always the emergency call difficulty from non-members to overcome; with the compulsory levy in operation and every farmer paying, this problem would accentuate, and seeminglv the only safe course lay in membership to the clubs.