VETERINARY MOVEMENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4400, 7 April 1922, Page 4

VETERINARY MOVEMENT.

ANOTHER PLAINS CLUB MOOTED. ADDRESS BY DR. JENSEN. X Through the courtesy of the Hauraki Plains Veterinary Club, Dr. J. Jensen, veterinarian (for that club, was enabled to lecture at Ngateaj, at the invitation of the Ngatea branch of *he Farmers’ Union, to explain the veterinary movement so that the settiers outside the present club could come to some conclusion —either to form 'i second club or join up with the present one. Mr W. G. Hayward occup/ed the chair. There were about 30 settlers present. Mr Hayward said the object of, getting Dr. Jensen to lecture was to obtain information regarding the formation of a club in the district. The doctor would probably clear up a few points the settlers, were not quite clear about. • .NGATEA’S EXCLUSION. Dr. Jensen said he had been asked several times why Ngatea had been left out of the present club.' He said Ngatea was not central for the num'-, ber of, members. He had brought Captain Simpson to Ngatea previously, wheft the idea was to form another club on the Plains, with Ngatea as its centre. When they had gone to i Waitakaruru only three farmers had tu r hed up, and these were of the ' opinion that the time was not opportune for another club on the Plains. The Waitakaruruians had wanted the ! centre lit Waitakaruru, but the speak- ! er contended that Waitakar.uru was 1 not central, as one could only - get j about from there for a few months in the summer. | The farmers did not want a private practitioner, continued Dr. Jensen. A private practitioner could easily ' mak§ £2OOO a year on thei Plains. The present club was getting better service from a veterinarian employed by the club. A private practitioner would do what he could for himself and a club veterinarian would do what he could to save himself work by quickly eradicating and preventing diseases. He referred to Mr , Gray’s experience, already reported in the “Gazette,” when several cows had gone dry by acid water in wells. The trouble had been stopped and disease prevented. The fact that there were many qualified men after l ' positions was evidenced when there ' were 21 qualified applicants available for the Hauraki Plains club. INCREASING MEMBERSHIP. I Dr. Jensen urged that the Ngatea > I an.l Pipiroa settlers should join the i Hauraki Plains club pro tem. If the settlers in those districts did not join, the membership of the present club could be made up from the Thames side of the.Waihou River. The Hauraki Plains Club must make up ths membership to 300, "so that the veterinarian could get a motor-car. The veterinarian could handle 300 members better with a car than 200 with a horse. a . He further stated that a membership of 200 was not sufficient to warrant, a large enough salary for a veterinarian. He would dp all in his power to get members, ip the Ngatea district if the settlers de- > sired to co-operate. He could then undertake to serve the Ngatea district suitably. NEW MEMBERS’ FEES. Mr R. Burke asked that seeing about four months of the year had gone, would the new members get. in at a reduced price ? Dr. Jensen : That’s a thing I cannot say. That would be a matter for the executive to decide. There ar? four months gonei, I’ll give that in, but there is the worst part of the

season tb come. It is quite an honest proposition to ask for a reduction - , but I advise you to pay the full amount. Replying to Mr Hayward, Dr. Jensen said the veterniarian would buy his own motor(-car. Mr Andrews : What is the possibility of the fee being less if the membership is increased. Woii'ld the fee be reduced if the membership was increased substantially ? Dr. Jensen: Most certainly, yes. But a man could only attend a certain number. Three hundred and fifty is the absolute limit. MEDICINE AT COST. Mr Davidson said quite a number of farmers were labouring under the impression that the £5 5s included medicine supplied. Dr. Jensen said that could not possibly be. He further .said that no profit was made on the medicine, which was sold to the. members at cost price. NEW CLUB DESIRED. Mr Burke thought it a good propo-i sition to join up with the Turua end, but he would like to see a veterinarian of /their own in Ngatea. He asked if £lO would be too much to ask from the settlers. Dr. Jensen said that though it would be hard to find £lO these days, it would not be top much for such a club. They would gel much better service from a veterinarian In a smaller ar,ea. Mr Andrews thought that the farm ers would get tired of paying out £lO every year when they might, get a private veterinarian for their herd troubles for a third of the amount. - He thought Ngatea, by extending its area to Waitakaruru should be able to get a veterinarian. He would like to see the thing have a fair trial by canvassing the district. Mr Hayward thought that before joining up with Turua Ngatea should see if it could form a club of Its own. Air Davidson was pf Mr Hayward's opihion. Mr Andrews moved “That this meeting resolves to canvass the district. in an endeavour to form a club in ‘he Ngatea district.” . Mr R. Burke seconded the motion, which was carried, GUARANTORS AND COMMITTEE. Mr Hayward asked iff those present would guarantee £4O as canvassing expenses. Twelve of those present signified their .willingness to guarantee that amount, and it is quite probable ' that more names will be forthcoming. Mr Hdyward proposed that Dr. Jensen should be asked to canvass the district if the consent of the Hauraki Plains Club could be obtained. j Mr Andrews seconded, and the motion was carried. The following temporary committee was elected: Me/srs A. J. Andrews, C. H. Shultz? L. Rowntree, E. T. Miles W. G. Hayward, and R. Burke. At a’ subsequent meeting of thiis committee Mr Andrews was elected chairman. On the motion of Messrs D.avidsoii and Burke a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the .Hauraki Plains Veterinary Club for allowing the veterinarian to lecture at Ngatea, and to Dr. Jensen for his lecture. A vote of thanks was 'also accorded to the chair.