VETERINARY SERVICE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4436, 5 July 1922, Page 3

VETERINARY SERVICE.

ORGANISING FARMERS’ CLUB. MEETING AT WAITAKARURU. A further effort to organise ’he farmers on the western portion of the Hauraki Plains to obtain the services of a veterinary surgeon .was made at Waitakaruru on Monday, when a number of settlers assembled to hear a lecture by Mr. J. Costello. There were also present at the meeting Mr. A. J. Andrews (chairman of tihe Farmers.’ Veterinary Club Committee) and Mr. p. Kinninmont (organiser for the club). Mr. W. Stretton was elected to the chair. While Mr. Costello delivered his address concerning prevalent diseases he said all were aware that the object in view was to organise a veterinary dub on tjhe Hauraki Plains. There would be applications called for the position ofj veterinary surgeon for the dub, and with, his professional experience of the last 30 years he would be a competitor. He had recently been relegated to the “scrapheap” owing to physical disabilities, but he was now in a position to return to the profession. He had, a few years ago, controlled one of the largest practices in New Zealand-. Mr. Andrews, after Mr. Costello had concluded his lecture, said |he had listened with attentiop to the speaker and had been impressed. Mr. Costello’s presence there that day was in no way attributable to those who were concerned in t|ie promotion of the veterinary club. It was through the organiser getting into the district where Mr. Costello is resident. Mr. Costello had been entirely in sympathy witfli the efforts to organise the club. The organiser had approached Mr. Costello and asked him to meet the committee to talk things over, as he may be instrumental in giving valuable advice to ferm toe club. The committee lost no time in making Waitakaruru a starting point. Since the committee had been set up to organise the club they had not been as successful as they had wished, no fault being attributable to anyone. The organiser had done good work, but there were not the number of' people in the area. He had got 95 per cent of the farmers he had- called upon.

MISLED BY OWN STUPIDITY. Ever since he Ihad been on the plains, Mr. Andrews continued, the club had been one of the few things on which he had. used all his energies. When he had been secretary of the Ngatea Farmers’ Union the Government ihad been asked to put a veterinarian on the Plains, but the Government claimed that it would be establishing a precedent. A lot of stock had been lost, and he failed to see how any progressive farmer could turn the veterinary club on pne side. It had been required years ago. If; a veterinarian had been established on the Plains, a number of years ago thousand-s of pounds’ worth of stock would have been saved. The speaker had been one ofi those whip had been misled by his own stupidity. He had had at one time an injured horse, but he could not get. the veterinarian at Turito, as the speaker was not a member, of the club. Two years a»t> the had lost a valuable horse, and the treatment he had given that horse had been quite the opposite to what he should have given. Medical, science was indispensable, and further organisation was required. If the dub was to be a success it should be the duty of every man to do his best. When the organiser’s duties were completed a general meeting of the members would be called, and it would then be decided, what steps would be taken. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to M!r. Costello for the valuable address. Mr. C. W. Parfitt endorsed Mr. Andrews’ remarks regaiding the thanks to Mr. Cos.tel'lo. Each district required a veterinarian some time of the year. He had heard of Mr. Costello's work, and he knew him to be second to none as a veterinarian in New Zealand. Mr. Parfitt was glad to hear that Mr. Costello was to be a candidate for the position of veterinary surgeon for the chib. Mr. Parfitt had thought that the stock would gain more benefit from feed and water than from a veterinarian, and he was glad that Mr. Costello !h,ad stressed the necessity of fresh water. He asked how many members had the organisation got for the club. Mr. Kinninmont, organiser, state*', later that over 90 members Ihad been enrolled. WAITAKARURU FEELIN,Gt Mr. Stretton said Dr. Jensen, qf. Turua, had maintained that the veterinarian should not travel more than nine miles. Mr. Andrews said Dr. Jensen had an area which required him to travel more than nine miles. Mr. Costello said the closer the area the better it. would be for the dub. The man who got tois position would have a very big hurdle, but a lot depended on the help given by the farmers. The distance from Ngatea to Waitakaruru was not too far for the operations of a veterinarian. Mr. R. T. Williams said the local Farmers’ Union had received a letter from the Ngatea union’s secretary requesting that Waitakaruru cooperate to form a veterinary club, the veti erinarian to be stationed at NgateaDr. Jensen had said nine or ten miles was •sufficient for a veterinarian to travel. He thought Ngatea should not have said the veterinarian shou’d be stationed, there, but wherever the veterinarian thought fit. If the Ngatea settlers would permit the veterinarian to make his own centre he thought the misunderstanding would be obviated. ORGANISING DIFFICULTIES. Mr. Kinninmont, organiser, outlying his connection with the veterinary dub, said he had canvassed Ngatea farmers, who had joined unanimously, but at Waitakaruru he had met with a little opposition, though he had been fairly successful. While at Waitakaruru he had been approached to include Maramar.ua. The committee had decided to include Mararoar.ua. Those settlers had guaranteed a certain number of members, but since then he had not heard any more from that end. He had met

with fair success except at Patetonga, where there was a veterinarian and chemist at their door. It was extraordinary that in a small country settlement the size of Patetonga there should be both a veterinarian and a chemist. If* all of the farmers grasped this opportunity of joining the club they would be fortunate. He !had explained to the Cajimers that the club was merely in the making. In Australia he had found that these clubs had been very successful. Elven if a farmer had not required the services of the veterinary surgeon on his farm he had the benefit of the information gained at the lectures. DISPEL PAROCHIALISM. Giving details of; the working of the club Mr. Kinninmont said there would be established in the centre a dispensary, where the medicines would be dispensed at cost price. A veterinarian brought from Hamilton, the nearest abode of a veterinarian, cost £l2 12s. The organisation was not a Ngatea affair, though the idea emanated from Ngatea. He urged the settlers to dispel their ideas of. parochialism. CLUB MEMBERSHIP. Mr. Kinninmont said he had gained over 90 members ,fpr the club, and there were a number who would no doubt link up when .the club ivas properly formed. It was proposed to charge £5 5s for the year, which, for 150 members, would give £787 10s. If the farmers would come into the scheme unanimously they would not lose the opportunity wlhich now offered. He thought that with' 120' menv bers the club 'could commence its operations. The Turua club started with 152 members, and it now had 218. Mr Parfitt said that all the Turua club members he knew had been quite satisfied with the organisation, and one had stated that he would have been willing to double his fee for, the lectures alone. Mr. Andrews made similar remarks. The motion of thanks to Mr. Costello was carried by acclamation at the conclusion of the meeting. Similar votes of thanks were passed to Messrs. Andrews and Kinninmont, to the chair, and the press.