MR GILRUTH'S DEPARTURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 12 January 1909, Page 3

MR GILRUTH'S DEPARTURE.

Wellington, January n

Mr Gilruth, in an interview with a Post reporter, gave details of the work of the Veterinary Department over the last 15 years. He said: Blackleg has practically ceased. Contagious mammitis is fairly prevalent in the dairying districts throughout the country. There are no legislative means of preventing the contagion spreading although legislation has repeatedly been urged. Tuberculosis is also prevalent, and Mr Gilruth says that if it will ever be economically possible to eradicate the disease, now is the time to do it. No outbreak of anthrax has occurred for four years, and swine fever has been stamped out. Asked about dairy inspection, he advocated inspection by veterinarians. So far as the dairy regulations which caused such a stir were concerned, he said he had never been consulted about them. They had never been submitted to him in any shape or form. His opinion was not even asked by the select committee which considered the regulations during the sitting of Parliament, nor was the opinion of Mr Young, a member of his staff, who for a number of years was specially engaged by the authorities in Edinburgh to supervise milk supply of that city, taken. Expert inspection was what was required.