OBJECTS DEFINED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32411, 24 March 1944, Page 7

OBJECTS DEFINED

VETERINARY FEDERATION . NATIONAL COVERAGE . CENTRAL CLINICS SUGGESTED A committee meeting of the Dominion Federation of Farmers’ Veterinary Services was held in Te Awamutu on Thursday 2nd, March. Mr. R.T. Scott, Morrinsville (chairman) presiding over farmer and 1 veterinarian delegates from the Morrinsville Ngatea, Putaruru, Taranaki and Te Awamutu veterinary organisations. The secretary Mr R. B. Westwater (Morrinsville) stated that the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Co. Ltd., which operated a veterinary service, had effected membership in the federation since the previous meeting of delegates. Referring to the provision of bursaries for the training of veterinary students, advice had been received from the Rehabilitation Board, that the allocation of bursars upon completion of their training, would be made by mutual agreement between representatives of the veterinary clubs and Public Service and that the wishes of each l bursar would be taken into account. Full information on veterinary club organisation etc. had been forwarded on request to the Victoria Dairymen’s Assn. Melbourne and to the Franklin Sub-Provincial Executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union. Appointment of Veterinarians Two’ 1943 graduates of Sydney University had accepted, appointments with the Taranaki and Morrinsville groups. Five graduates of Toronto University had accepted positions with affiliated clubs but at the present stage there was a doubt as to whether Government sanction could be obtained for the release of two of these from Canada. meeting of the Government Veterinary Services Committee was to be held at an early date to consider the credentials of a number of English applicants for positions in New Zealand of whom 12 might be available for appointments to veterinary clubs. Dominion Veterinary Coverage The chairman, Mr R.T. Scott, presented a report on a proposal for the provision of veterinary services to cover N.Z. The general principals of the eport were accepted and adopted by the meeting. The proposal envisaged the setting up of a central committee in Wellington comprising two representatives each from the N.Z. Dairy Board, N.Z. Meat Board l , N.Z. Veterinary Services, Dept.of Agriculture, (Live stock and Research Divisions) and one from any other board or organisation whose interests would warrant the appointment such as N.Z. Poultry Board, N.Z. Racing Conference, N.Z. Trotting Association. etc.

The board would procure veterinary personnel and allocate the men to the districts and organisations requiring them. The board would delegate administration of the club system to the Federation which would in turn delegate the actual working to the local committees in each cluib district to be elected by’ club members. On each

committee, representatives of the vetei*inarians would be elected, to give the best co-ordination of service.

The Dept, of Agriculture should confine itself to research work and such other* work as meat inspection and field work such as is undertaken on experimental farms, and all preparations of serums vaccines etc. All other work would be delegated to veterinary officers throughout the country and by co-ordination and cooperation a good and valuable scheme could be conducted in the Dominion. The report suggested that the undertaking should .'be financed 'by means of a levy on the industries concerned which would have the effect of everyone paying an equal share to the cost and in proportion to production. Central clinics should be provided where medicines and drugs could be dispensed in bulk or prescription form and facilities be available for veterinarians to do some research on their own account. National work such as the T.B. testing of herds could be undertaken and staff could be transferred from one district to another as required for this purpose. Federation Objects The meeting then proceeded to consideration of the federation’s Rules and Constitution as amended by a subcommittee set up for that purpose. The principal objects of the federation were defined as to consider all matters affecting the working and expansion of the affiliated organised farmers veterinary groups with ultimate object of creating a national

non-government veterinary service which will collaborate with existing government veterinary organisations in maintenance and improvement of stock health and in the education of health problems; to assist in the cothe farming community in animal ordination of all matters affecting the working of the affiliated organisations for their mutual protection and benefit and generally to assist in all aspects of veterinary work as undertaken by the various organisations concerned; to arrange the appointment of veterinarians for the organisations requiring same; and to assist in maintaining direction and control of dominion veterinary services by primary producers organisations. General* Committee and Executive

On the motion of Messrs A.A. Blakely (Morrinsville) and H.R. Clark (Te Awamutu) it was agreed to appoint two- farmer representatives and one veterinarian to the general committee of the federation for every three veterinarians or part thereof employed by each organissation.

The rules empower the general committee to appoint its number one delegate from the N.Z. Dairy Board and N.Z. Meat Board (the Federation to invite the Boards to nominate a Joint delegate.) Provision is made for an executive of seven to be appointed ,by the General Committee to manage the business of the federation the farmer members of the general committee to elect three of their number and the veterinarians to elect three ,of theii’ representatives while the delegate of the N.Z. Dairy and Meat Boards will be the seventh member of the executive (if appointed to the general committe or if not, the farmers will elect an additional representative.) . The chairman stated that the N.Z. Dairy Board had agreed to the use of its offices and services for administration of the federation’s business. Messrs. R.T. Scott and A. Leslie (Taranaki) 1 were appointed delegates to discuss details w’ith the N.Z. Dairy Board. Incorporation The meeting decided to proceed with the incorporation of the federation. ( An executive was set up to hold office until the first annual general meeting, consisting of Messrs. R.T. Scott (Morrinsville) chairman, F. Parsons (Taranaki) deputy chairman H.R. Clarke (Te Awamutu) farmer representatives. A. Leslie, J. Stewart (Taranaki) and A.A. Blakely, (Morrinsville) Veterinarian’s representatives, with the appointee from the Dairy and Meat Boards to be added.