VETERINARY CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5128, 20 May 1927, Page 3

VETERINARY CLUB.

HAURAKI PLAINS BODY. FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Farmers’ Veterinary Club was held at Ngatea yesterday afternoon, Mr G. T. Davidson presiding oyer 16 members. ANNUAL REPORT. Presenting his, annual report, the president mentioned that there were 99 members at the end of the financial year. Twelve new members had been enrolled during the year and there had been 15 resignations, but since the beginning of the new year some pf these had rejoined. The receipts from the sale of: medicine showed a falling off of £lOO, as compared with the previous year, but part of this was due to the absence of the surgeon through illness and part was due to the general improvement in the health of stock. The amount of outstanding subscriptions and charges for medicines was about the same as in previous years, but the balance of £4o' owing on the car provided for the surgeon had been paid off. The assets were approximately the same as in the previous years. BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet for the year showed receipts totalling £506 14s 6d from subscriptions and £lOl 7s from the sale pf medicines. The expenditure totalled £644 16s Id, the only items with the exception of wages and office expenses, etc., being medicine £B6 0s 7d, repayment of balance of loan on purchase of motor-car £4O, and motor repairs £l4 15s 4d. The statement of assets and liabilities showed assets totalling £226 17s 9d. including outstanding tions £137 and outstanding medicine charges £57 17s 9d, while the liabilities totalled £53 16s 4d, leaving a balance of assets over liabilities of £173 Is sd.

Discussing the amount of outstanding subscriptions, the president stated that the executive had decided to take action to collect the money, and this had resulted in a fair, proportion being received. In reply to' a question Mr Davidson stated that it depended, on the views of the committee as to how long credit was given for drugs. The committee decided each case on its merits, and while endeavouring to conduct the affairs on businesslike lines, did not wish to be harsh. There was always a proportion of the members unable to pay, but the club had found that the total amount outstanding did not vary much, 'while the members who were temporarily embarrassed varied considerably and those who could not pay one y°ar paid up in the next year. If the club took legal action against temporarily defaulting members it w’ould undoubtedly Ipse many o r them. Members commented that the club was in a better financial position than in some previous years, and there was every indication that the position would improve. . (Outstanding debts would be found in the balance-sheet of every business undertaking. Comment was made op t'he fact that the publication in the Press of the club as at the monthly committee meetings sometimes, tended to create a falsd impression. At times the financial position appeared black, and though at other times the f uture was bright, there was a chancethat the members and the public gained a wrong impression when the black side was presented in a report of one committee meeting. It was suggested that in future the meetings be taken in committee, but this course was not approved of by members, who welcomed a monthly statement'of the doings of the club, rand it was decided that the “Gazette” reporter be invtted to the monthly meetings, SURGEON’S REPORT. In his annual report the veterinary surgeon, Mr J. Costello stated that, generally speaking, conditions had improved during the past year. He had had splendid results with garget —in fact, almost invariably when taken in time the result had been satisfactory. There had been a remarkable improvement in the swine during the year, due to better husbandry and conditions during the winter months. He recommended members to pay special attention to their swine, to keep them warm, well housed and fed. and in the early spring to place plenty of wood ashes and shell lime in the yards. There vas a great # uture for the industry on the Plains, ahd in his opinion the importation of better pigs into the district was going to improve conditions. He drew attention to the spread of among swine, and urged farmers to get advice at the first symptoms. Virginitas .and tuberculosis were on the decline, due to treatment. Metritis had been prevalent during the year, but he hoped when fresh water was available to improve matters Concluding his report, Mr Costello expressed regret at not being able to atten cases during his illness, and tendered his thanks for the great kindness to him and the courtesy to Mrs Costello during the year, and particularly during the period of his illness.

The report was adopted, and by request Mr Costello gave some information concerning the pig disease lupus, or tetter.

This was a very infectious disease which farmers should not attempt to treat, said Mr Costello. It started as a sort of boil and, spread very rapidly, eating into the surface for inches. Affected pigs should be isolated immediately, and the sties disinfected thoroughly. Spreading shell lime and wood ashes in the pigyards would tend to prevent the disease. Concerning a certain disease which was becoming prevalent among the dogs pf the Dominion, Mr Costello said that it was termed mysteria, because it was a mysterious malady, and although it had been the subject of investigation during the last 40 years in other countries rothing of ' much consequence had yet become known. It was a sort of influenza, and the blood circulation was affect- • ed, producing staggers. Post mortem

examinations revealed that the kidneys and perhaps the lungs had turned blue. So far it had been impossible to fight the disease ,as, it had not been possible to isolate any bacteria. The malady was treated just as influenza was treated in human beings. The dogs should be isolated, the kennel disinfected, and the animal kept warm. He could supply medicine which had proved satisfactory. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. Mr G. T. Davidson was re-elected president fe the club for another year Messi’s C. H. Waite and C. W. Schultz were appointed vice-presi-dents, and Messrs G. Phillips, J. Kneebone, R. Burke. E. Martin, and F. T. V. Johnson the executive committee. Mr E. L. Walton was reappointed auditor. SURGEON’S ABSENCE. The action of the committee in granting the surgeon seven weeks’ leave of absence on full pay during the time he. was ill was unanimously approved. ASSISTING THE SURGEON. A plea for co-operation between members and the surgeon in the matter of saving time was made by a member, who urged that whe-reyei possible’ stock requiring attention should be brought to the front of the farm.