VETERINARY SERVICE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4444, 24 July 1922, Page 3

VETERINARY SERVICE.

forming farmers* CWB. a VETERINARIAN APPOINTED. A general meeting of members of the Farmers’ Veterinary Club was ■held at Ngatea on Friday afternoon, about twenty or thirty settlers attending. It was a representative gathering of settlers within the proposed area, which includes Waitakaruru, Kaihere, and Ngatea. Mr. A. J. Andrews (chairman of the provisional committee) occupied the chair. Mr, Andrews, in outlining the progress to date, said that as far as the committee’s duties were concerned it had now lost its usefulness- It was for the meeting to decide what was v the best means to make the club a success. The committee had not been as successful as he would have liked it to he. There were not the number of settlers in the district. About 150 settlers "were in the area, and a number were not obtained. The centre for the establishment of the veterinarian had been a difficulty in gaining some members. At Patetonga the settlers had considered that it was nos practicable to get a good service owing tc the state of the roads. Patetonga had been the most fortunate district in the area. In the Waitakaruru area a number had joined, but a number had thought that if the veterinarian was established at Ngatea he would be too far away. The speaker did not think there was anything to stop them getting a start. A few of the members may have to pay a little more.. There was a total of 96 members, Of which 65 had paid t.heir initiation fees. It was not unreasonable to say that the.club could count on 90 financial; members. ORGANISING DIFFICULTIES. Mr. Kinninmont, organiser, outlining his work with the club, said that there had been a little misunderstanding in Waitakaruru, but this, he thought, had been dispelled. At Kaihere he had obtained a fair percentage of the farmers. At Patetonga the , settlers had been satisfied with the existing arrangements. He maintained that a lot were waiting for the club to be formed, and when it was started there should be another 40 members join the club within two months. There was another club being formed at Te Aroha, and another at Pukekohe. Mr. Hayward asked what the expenses of running the club would be. Mr Andrews said that at the .moment he was not permitted to speak, though he could later on give a fair idea. It had been the intention of the committee to invite applications for. a vet, continued the speaker. In the early stage he had visited Mr. Costello, who was of, many years’ standing "as a qualified veterinarian and who may be of some service in guiding the .club. Mr. Costello had told tho speaker that, be would do his best to fall in with the committee. Mr. Andrews believed that if the club was started it would be a success, especially with such a man as Mr. Costello as the veterinarian. Mr. Costello said Ihe had intended to go into practice again, and he had also considered entering into the competition for the position of veterinary surgeon. He thought that as the movement started at Ngatea that place should be the centre. Mr. French moved that the dub be formed and a committee appointed.

Mr. Hayward seconded the motion, wh’ch was carried unanimously. THE COMMITTEE.

Mr. Kinninmont said it was a fair proposition that each district should be equally represented on the committee. He considered two from each district would make a good committee.

The following committee was appointed : Messrs G. French and I. Haley (Waitakaruru), O. W. Parfitt and F Wallis (Pipiroa), IL Bur ( ke and

L. Rowntree (Ngatea), and Wallace and Hewett (Kaihere). Provision was made for the addition of committeemen for other districts. Mr. Andrews was elected secretary pro tern. It was unanimously decided that tiie headquarters of the club be at Ngatea. The name of "The Farmers’ Veterinary Club” was approved. The committee was recommended that Mr. E. Walton should be appointed legal advisor to the club. It was decided to appoint Mr. Costello as veterinarian to the club, subject to satisfatcory adjustments. PROPORTIONAL PAYMENTS, Mr. R. Burke asked how the club would manage with farmers with more than one farm. Mr. Kinninmont said that was an important fact which should be decided by the committee. He advised that some difference should be made Adhere one man had more than one farm.’ The Te Aroha club was attempting to put the subscriptions on a cow basis. Mr. Davidson said that those, men should be asked to be guarantors for the club

Mr. Andrews suggested that it was a matter for the committee. He, personally, was of. the opinion that a man working more than one farm should have to pay more than a farmer with only one herd. Mr. Haley said that a farmer may have more cattle than a man with a number of farms. Mr. Davidson maintanied that the small man had nothing to quibble about as long as he was getting his money’s worth. Mr. Andrews, replying to a question by Mr. W. Phillips, that the members’ subscriptions should be paid through the dairy company, said the club should approach the heads of the company when they come to the district within the next few days. Votes of thanks to Mr. Costello anl the outgoing committee for services rendered to the club were carried by acclamation;