VETERINARY CLUBS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4361, 4 January 1922, Page 2

VETERINARY CLUBS.

ON THE PLAINS NGATEA MOVEMENT, Between 20 and 30 settlen assent, bled in the Ngatea Hall (wftes the ' Thames "Star”) for the pupose ol discussing the advisability cr otherwise of instituting a Veterinay Club on the western side of the Piako River. Mr W. G. Hayward, pesideht of the Ngatea branch of the Nw Zealand Farmers’ Union, was h the chair. Among those on the pitform were: Dr. Jensen, M.R.C.V.S., 1.V.5., and Capt. Chas. Simpson, M.R.1.V.5., who had been invited to addres the meeting. • The president said that Dr. Jqsen had come to address them, witlithe object of forming a chib on the Astern side of the river. Div Jensen lyl recently been appointed the Haurai Plains Veterinary Club’s chief vet eninarian. Both Captain Simpson anti Dr. Jensen , possessed the highest', qualifications which a veterinary sur-[ geon could attain.

’ Dr. Jensen said that the meeting; was called for the purpose, primarily,' of obtaining the feeling o? the Ngatea settlers regarding the advisability of club pn the westeri ■orfion of the Hauraki

Plains! Settlers, on the Plains had been urging the Government to provide veterinary assistance, but, as yet, no steps had been taken to meet the wishes of the settlers concerned. A club must be formed, and‘he was going to do all in his power to further the project. A few of the many advantages that the settlers would gain if they became members of a club would be:(l) The "vet.” would be always at the service of members of the club. (2) fie could be ed by the club if he did not carry out his duties to their satisfaction. (3)

Clubs could afford to employ first.class men. (4) Drugs, medicines, and any medicinal apparatus required could be obtained from the club’s own dispensary at .practically cost price. (5) Demonstrations and lectures of great value would be given by the club’s “vet.” to members as required by the club’s executive committee. Continuing, Dr. Jensen remarked that a man with high qualifications should be appointed, and—he would not have any outside practise, or the club would prove to be a farce. He would be paid a monthly salary, and would be liable' td dismissal at one month’s notice. The Hauraki Plains Veterinary Club,. which he had just organised, was paying their veterinarian £650 per annum, which, when the club membership reached 200, would be increased to £BOO. By paying a good salary they could obtain a good man. The “vets.” in Government employ were paid various salaries, ranging from £440 to £550. It had been suggested by a large dairying concern that a consulting veterinarian stationed at Hamilton would serve the requirements of the Waikato, Thames_lJ.V.ailey, and Hauraki Plains. This, to the speaker, was a most ridiculous suggestion, and could never be given effect to if 1 a good mam was to fill the position. No veterinarian could diagnose cases by post' The

members, should the club eventuate, ■ should be very careful to see that they did not appoint a “kidi-glove” man—and he was sorry to say there were niany in the Dominion at present. Another matter to consider was tjiat if several clubs were formed in the Thanes Valley and on the Plains, then the chief veterinarians of each club would, if necessary, at any time always be able to confer with each, other. He believed that two heads might, at times of emergency, be far better thafa one. The initiation fee to the chi) would, of course, be paid only for the first year. Thip fee would be used for the purposes of (1) organising the club ; (2) establishing a dispensary; (3) purchasing a microscopic set and the necessary analytical apparatus. Concluding, the speaker, stated thas he had induced Captain C. Simpson, a member of th« Royal College of Ve.-. erinary Surgeons (London), to be present and to addiess the meeting. Cap

tain Simpson qtite agreed with D. Jensen’s remarks regarding the ncessity of establishing a club on th western side of the Piako River, fe ' had only been in the district a fy hours, but was quite satisfied thatt was making very fast progress. Tp quantity of the stock would increae very materially,, and .that before vty long ; and the amount of disease, cii sequent upon the increase in te quantity of the stock, would also 1- . crease. The setters must see tat that it was the quality of the st<k, and not the amount of diseased sta, that increased. The club would tia great help in ffiljijr again, they must riot trust to the travelling “mack," who would come and “rook” them, and woiM never again return; ' AJ Dr. Jensen said that, he would very pleased to answer, any queriJ pertaining to veterinary matters. N<vj was the time to ask questipns, afi. not when the club\was formed. i To Mr Hayward There had bee mistakes made regarding the westeri boundary of the Hauraki Club, bu this could be very rectified • The clubs must work ani f not be always one aaginst .the othe Continuing, Dr. Jensen stated thj • the proposed area would include tl| ■ Waitakaruru, Kaihere, Ngarua, an . Ngatea districts. The boundary > could always be extended, if it wa • so desired. There were over 170 suj t pliers to the Ngatea butter factory o the western side of the Piako Rive north of, and including, Kaihere ar - Mrynvnn

Ngarua, j Mr A. Cleaver said that he had nd had occasion to consult a “vet,” unt! he came to the Hauraki Plains, an since he came to the Plains he haj not been able to obtain the services J •a “vet.” He would move that tlj ineeting was of the opinion that k Club should be formed in the arjl proposed. ih Mr T. G. D.avidson seconded the itf tibn. Commenting on the motion, I remarked that only a man with if higtiost possible qualifications shoq be allowed to work for the dub.

Dr. Jensen stated that, to hiffh the amount of mortality amongst stqck on the Hauraki Plains was astoundingBeasts at times dropped dead sudden-. ly. A Government “vet.” had stated that the cause of such deaths was sepsis (blood poisoning). He (the ... speaker) emphatically denied this.-No beast would drop dead suddenly if poisoned. The tse-tse worm (which was very prevalent in the water on th© Plains) was the cause of such a death, and not sepsis. There were several other diseases which helped to cause the very great stock mortai-i ity on the Plains. The club’s “vet. would explain these to members, as it would be to his advantage to educate the farmer, and so help to lessen the great amount of disease. A Member of the Royal College of Veterin- . ary Surgery before obtaining this dc-i gree (the highest in the world) had to go through a complete course of agriculture. There would not be a single clause in .the rules of the club that would benefit the “vet." only. [The Government schemes tp establish veterinary clubs had proved to be failures. Good men would not accept

[any positions in clubs organised under the Government schemes, as the salary was not large enough. Mr Davidson stated that the club, ram a dairy farmer’s point of view, vould be a huge success, financially.

I second-class cow was worth about (5. and that sum, if she died, would eqpal to more than three years’ sbscription to the club. The Ngatea |rmers’ Union had initiated the nvement, with the object of estab.i Idling some sort of a veterinary assdation on the Hauraki Plains. He , qije agreed with the scheme outlined bjDr. Jensen. V. Jensen suggested that a cauvaier should be appointed in each disict. This method had proved succeSul when forming the Hauraki ’’ Pla s Club. In the slack periods of

the’ear the “vet.” would give lecture as often as the executive comof the club desired. These lecturewpuld not be the orthodox Gov-t ernmt lectures, but lectures that woutgive the members knowledge thatbuld help them to cure, and to first aid in case of accidents and leases. Mrbleaver’s motion was carried unanjously. It w,as further decided that Ise present would do their utmost [further the scheme. Dr.jnsen stated that when a certain mber of members had been obtairiedhen a general meeting would be hejat which an executive committeeiould be elected. He would suggesihat the veterinarian should be appted by a general meeting, and noty the executive. If a farmer, his initiation fee of £1 Is, hsed to pay the remaining four gU>as, then he forfeited the initiatiofee. Mr B)e thought that they were . all on thvrong track. The Hauraki Plains (b would never -have bean formed t not Dr. Jensen been “performing jracles” and organising in , the distji He thought_ a< that di’strict gid'adopt the same lines • of Dr. Jen) remarked that he would have beeiieased to help in the or* ganising Vk. “But,” he added, "I nnrt nnvr Hdnn fn f’h'fl, TTfllirilki PlaiHS

am now tifap to th© Hauraui Club as frj January 1” It was iided that- Mr Hayward should be pointed the Ngatea dele* gate of'a nutation comprising one person froniaqh district in the proposed areajrhich will, at an early date, wait oihe executive committee of the Hahki Plains Veterinary Club, Jor thburpose ofi asking them. to permit DiJensen to assist in the* organising wkof the new club. It was sugsted that the new club be called Veterinary Club. . A hearty v|e of thanks to Dr. Jensen and Canin Simpson, for their .addresses, ws carried with Toud and prolonged aclamation. A vote of panics to the chairman concluded thi meeting. . > r