Animal Diseases

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 21, 26 January 1937, Page 4

Animal Diseases

TRAINING OF SURGEONS GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS A limited number of veterinary scholarships, each of £IOO annually, are to be granted by the Government this year. This information is contained in an announcement by the Department of Agriculture in which applications for tho scholarships are invited. The scholarships are to be available to students wishing to train either in Australia or in the United Kingdom. | In the case of those entering the 1 Sydney University Veterinary School an annual return face between New | Zealand and Australia will be paid, but [ no transport allowance will be granted those going to the United Kingdom. Conditions of Tenure Intending applicants must have passed the University Entrance Examination, and prefereuco will be given to those who have passed the Medical Intermediate examination or its equivalent in tho required subjects. The scholarships will be tenable for four years for students entering the Sydney school, with a reduction to three years in the case of those students whose qualifications in certain subjects entitle them to remission of the first year’s course. In the case of students training in the United Kingdom, the duration of the scholarships will be five years, with the remission of a year in similar circumstances. Successful applicants, it is stated, will be required to enter into an agreement with the Government that they will undertake veterinary work within the Dominion for a period of at least five years after qualifying, either in Agriculture, if required, or otherwise in some capacity approved by the department. Needs of Dominion The comparative neglect of voterinary science in New Zealand has been the subject of considerable comment in recent years. Speaking in July, 1935, the deputy chairman of tho Executive Commission of Agriculture, Sir Francis Frazer, said that in New Zealand there was only one qualified veterinary practitioner to every 750,000 head of stock, whereas in England and in tho United States there was one to every 16,000 head. On Sir Francis’ figures, there were then about 45 to 50 qualified veterinarians to attend to the health of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs numbering over 34,000,67)0, to say nothing of the dogs and other pets in the towns which, with racehorses, account for a considerable proportion of veterinary service. The lack of any provision in New Zealand for young men to qualify as veterinary surgeons was stressed by Mr ■ L. J. Wild at a meeting of the Senate j of the University of New Zealand in ' January last year. He urged the need for the establishment of a strong veterinary service to deal with stock diseases and to conduct research work. The loss of stock in New Zealand was almost beyond belief, and the toll of disease was far greater than was generally known, ho said.