EXPERT ASSISTANCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 891, 10 August 1910, Page 10

EXPERT ASSISTANCE.

'''X-- ,'.' : '■ •■• \PREVEi\TION OF CRUELTY TOJ

ANIMALS.

SHOUTAGE-OF VETERINARY:. , , ; ' ";,. SURGEONS.:V<-;.;/: '■}']■> • ..'Ai'deputation from the Society : for Prevention of-Cruelty to Animals waited 'on the Minister for' Agriculture (the Hon. T. Mackenzie). " yesterday, and asked' that the ' veterinary surgeons of his-Department should be allowed to give - evidence in support...: of [ charges brought by the society. iMr. .A. L. Herdman, MJE , .,. who introduced the ■ deputation, said that tho society at present ivere labouring under a great disadvantage'. It was necessary for them, in order to support cases in court, to obtain expert.' assistance. and advice, and until recently' the-veterinary surgeons of the Department were in the habit of not only giving their,evidence and assistance,.'but of going.into court to support the cases brought by the .society. Recently the Department had issued instructions that'-they-were iiot to attend c.ourt. . ; '■;

Mr. Mackenzie stated that tho' Department had-not done anything'of the sort, and that tho change of-- practice was not recent. •' ' ■ . Mr. Herdman said he' was speaking according to tho information given him. If the Department would allow its officers to go into court and assist tho society's, inspector a.great benefit would be conferred. ' - Mr. Jamieson, president of the society, said it had been , very difficult , re--.cently to get veterinary' -surgeons to ■jgivo evidence. . They said they could not spare the time.- When .they did not, give evidence, but merely sent a certifi'cate, the magistrate would not'convict.Mr. Seed, inspector of the society,'said that Mr. Reakes,. Chief Vete'rin>rian, had informed him that he could .not spare any of his staff'to go to court. Mr. Herdman pointed out that there -were only. 18 or 19 cases brought in a ■year. ■ ■ .., - '.: ~. '. ■ The Rev. J. R.'Glasson stated that :tho society were doing a good deal ol ;-work which. might' bo done ' by:. . the police, and there was a saving to the community in. that way. -_ The Minister said. ; Mr. Reakes had informed him that it-was quite impossible for his staff to take in hand tho work required of them, in addition to their Departmental duties. Very often they had to hang round the court all ,-day over a case, and sometimes they had had to coino from distant parts to give" evidence. -Ho was sorry that he Iwas not able to promise their, services. It was constantly said that the public service ivas over-staffed and extravagant, but in regard to his- Department ho was quite suro. that it was not so. It would be necessary toappoint other officers if ho agreed to give the services required. Ho regretted, therefore, that he could not comply .with the request. At the same time he recognised that the work of tho society required every- encouragement. ■■ Mr. Watson, asked if tho veterinary ■surgeons would still give their assistance in cases brought by tho police. ; Tho Minister said that if giving evidence took them away too much from their other work he could not allow it. Ho:'was quito willing if any officer thought ho could-afford-timeto givo evidence in a particular caso that ho should do so.' The Department .was short of veterinary' surgeons. He was getting threo out from Home now—one •had? just arrived—and ho supposed-they could employ six or seven more in New Zealand.

' Mr. George Brown asked if tho Government would- subsidise collections raised by the society, which was really a charitable institution, and so enable ■it to engage outside assistanco. ' Mr. Mackenzie said he would bring the request boforo Cabinet.