VETERINARY CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5278, 23 May 1928, Page 1

VETERINARY CLUB.

HAURAKI PLAINS BODY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The Farmers’ Veterinary Club held its sixth annual general meeting at Ngatea on Monday, Mr G. T. David" son piesiding over eleven members and the secretary (Mr C. A. Gibson). ANNUAL REPORT. The president in reporting on the year’s operations, stated that the membership number was dine in excess of the previojus; year. The. fin.an cial position was practically the same as formerly. A collector, had been appointed some months ago, and had collected £64. The amount outstand" ing for medicines supplied was nearly double, that of the previous year, but the .amount handled was twice as much. BALANCE-SHEET. Thei balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1928, showed receipts th bq £774 17 s 4d, fr.om members’ fees and medicine charges. The expenditure totalled £7BO 17s 7di, arid as the balance brought forward was £lO Os 9d, the amount to be carried forward was £4. Os 6d. The statement of assets: and liabil'" ities showed assets totalling £277 19s 2d, including £154 18s 8d outstanding subscriptions, and liabilities £54 Is 6d, leaving an excess of assets over, liabilities of ‘ £223 17s Bd. The report .and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. SURGEON’S REPORT. Thej surgeon, Mr J. Costello, imported on his year’s work as follows :— “During the year I. have attended numerous cases with marked success. The cases which gave the m'o&t troub'lp were those where the farmer had been using remedies other than prescribed by me. Members can rely on me advising them to use patent medicines if I find them to be of. advantage. “Cases which came under my notice were : Calving, retention, garget, milk fever, dysentery, dyspepsia, nephritis, phreni&tis, .antinomycocis (wood tongue), tuberculosis, and many minor complaints, including dentistry, broken legs, shoulders, etc. I have also performed a number of operations, major and minor, and have had splendid) results. “I wOjuld advise, members to attend . during the off-season, to the hygiene of the swine. The yards should be harrowed and limed, the houses kept clean 1 , and the pigs kept warm and. comfortable. I think, if this were carried) out, it would mea t ji a great improvement. “I am pleased to say that with the advent of the freish water the vitality of the cattle has improved considerably. Dyspepsia has decreased, and digestion has. been much improved. I have taken particular care to note the conditions on both sides of the Piako River, and I am more than satisfied with the improvement. “I would strongly advise the farm." ers to mate their coiws earlier, a& I have noticed it is more difficult to deal with cows which are left too late in the season. With, improved drainage, good .water, and plenty of feed, this: could be managod. “1 have made approximately 700 visits during the year. “In conclusion, I wish to thank the president, committee., secretary, and members for kind courtesy and consideration extended to me during the year, I would also; like, to thank the various cream cartage contractors for their kindness in delivering medicines to members,” The report was adopted without discussion. OFFICERS. The officers appointed for the year were as follows :— President, Mr C. ,W. Schultz ; vicepresidents, Messrs, R. B.urke, and ACleaver; committee, Messrs, W. Andrews, G. Phillips, E. W- Martin, WMcCarthy, and McCraith ;. auditor, Mr E. L. Walton; secretary, Mr C. A. Gibson..

Tre outgoing committee wai,s accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of, Mr A. Gl.eaver, who pointed.'! that the club had been in existence for seven years, and he doubte (1 if there wa.s another veterinary clu b in Australia 'O.T.Nhw Zealand which had been in existence for so long.

SECRETARYSHIP. Tlie question of the salary to lie paid to. thei secretary was brought UP by the president, who suggested! tl mt applications be called for the positi on at a wage more in keeping ;wit'h t fie amount of work. Thei present seci etai y was very inadequately paid • £l3 a year. Mr Davidson move.d that applicartions be called at a salary of £25 a-1 year. . Mr McG-raith seconded 1 . Mr, W. Phillips opposed paying mQi’C’ to the secretary until the financialposition of the club improved. Mr Vowles moved as an amendment that the present secretar y be reappointed,. and that the in,coining committee be, recommended to- go into tlie matter of increasing his salary. Seconded by Mr McCarthy nnd carried. APPRECIATION. In acknowledging a vote of thanks to the retiring officers Mr G. T. Davidson said that they the .roughly deserved' it on account c .f the great amount of time they 1 iad given th canvassing for members , and collecting subscriptions. On the motion of f <r Davidson a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Burke for his special work a& canvasser. Mr Costello was reappointed surgeon. and he wais a< -corded a- vote of thanks for the ‘able planner-in which

he had attended to members. .. Mr Davidson mentioned that dur,i ng the year the committee had not re- , ceiveil a single comp\aiift concerning the surgeon. MEMBERSHIP. In replying to a question concerning the surgeon’s salary the president pointed out that Mr Costello was entitled to half the subscriptions of all , members over 106- The present mem V.bership was 105. | The question of limiting the mem I Worship was then discussed', membei s. advocating,that 120 was as many as one surgeon could attend to. Mr Vowles sajd that the history o| the club tended to show that there, was .not likely to be too many member' IT. any restrictions: were to be impm-ixd they should be in the direction of limiting the area. FINANCE. In discussing the financial position it w.aS explained that most of the outstanding subscriptions were small amounts: recently incurred. There was some criticism of the retiring committee in not suing for its money, and it was pointed out that if members paid up promptly the club would be in a sound financial position and could then secure the very good discounts offered by the drug supplj company. REPORTS OF MEETINGS. Mr Davidson moved 1 a vote ojf

thanks to the “Gazette” for its reports of meetings. He mentioned that he , had been “rapped over the knuckles on several occasions for allowing certain matters to be published, but he could assure members that the reports had been correct. It w>as to the advantage of members to be kept advised of stock maladies, but those farmers who wanted to sell t'heii farms disliked seeing anything in print which reflected on the district. The motion was carried by acclamation.