THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2285, 2 September 1908, Page 2

THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT.

MR. GILRUTH’S RESIGNATION. ' MR. REAKES TO RECEIVE THE AI’i’OINTAIENT. , ISi’eOiaij to “Times.”] AVEIjI/INCTON, Sept. 1. .. During a discussion on Hie estimates of expenditure! for tins Agricultural Department in tlm House this evening, Air. Merries moved a reduction of the item ol .C(iso, the salary of the Child' Veterinarian, by £1 as. an indication that information should he given as to the reported resignation of Air. Gilruth. The Minister, in replying, read a letter from Air. Gilruth to the Secretary of Agriculture, under (late Aug. 7, l!)l)8. In this communication the Chief Veterinarian referred to reports that lmd been ill circulation, and slated that he would make the position clear. Ho had received a communication from the Registrar of the Melbourne University to the effect Mint a chair of veterinary pathology was to be established, and asking it lie would accept the appointment .should it be offered to him. He had replied that lie would accept it. He regarded the offer ns a great honor. It would afford opportunities for special work, and he knew of nobody wlio would decline such an oiler.. He had, lie continued, since received notice that be had been appointed, but he did not anticipate that lie would by required to relinquish his present appointment until the beginning ol next year, lie bad not sought, the new appointment in any way, and lie laid even stated, when he first heard of Hie intention to establish the chair, that if it was advertised he would not be an applicant. He added that it would relied great credit on tlio Department. Air. AlcNab also read a letter which be bad forwarded to Air. Gilruth. through the Secretary for Agriculture, conveying to him the congratulations of the Department, expressing the Alinister’s sense ol the honor (lone to the Department by the appointment, and stating that arrangements would lie made to suit Mr. Gilruth’s wishes as to the date of his relinquishing his present duties. In regard to who was to be Mr. CJilrutli’s successor, Air. AlcNab said be bad already told Air. Ileakes (Assistant Veterinary) that he would bo given tile refusal of the appoii tmeni. As to reorganisation within the Department, it was to be presumed that Air. Gilruth, as a capable oiiicer, had as good an oagauisation as it was possible to got. Therefore bo had no present intention in connection with reorganisation within the Department. If, when Air. ltcakes took charge, lie had any suggestions to make, they would be duly considered. In regard - to the relations between that and other divisions in the same Department, no doubt the time would come when some of them would have to be made separate Departments, so that they could be drawn more closely in touch with the Alinisterial head. He had no intention of making the veterinary division a Department of its own in the. meantime. Ho also felt confident that the time was coming when one Minister' would have to confine himself entirely to the administration of tlio Agricultural Department.