VETERINARY SCIENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 21

VETERINARY SCIENCE.

<F»om Otra Own Coheespondent.) WELLINGTON, August 30. ! The Fanners' Union Advocate, referring to the delay in establishing a Chair of Veterinary Science, says : " Most people who have an interest in agriculture have Jjeen anxious to have a Chair of Veterinary Science in New Zealand. Dunedin was thought to be the place where, if arrangements could be satisfactorily made, the school should be. established. It has, however, been so long in coming that it makes one sceptical bi present intentions, and despair of seeing our higher education progressing in this direction. The | Hon. G. Fowlds says that it is to be gone on. with, and when aeked if any arrangements "have Jbeen made to fill the chair, replies: "There is no need for that" at present, as the first year course of veterinary training is the same as the medical training." f s it likely students will begin their studies at. a University in which there ia no provision made to enable them, to .take a V.S. degree? At present we are suffering from a disease called ' Economitis,' and if it spreads the chances of a proper school are very remote. Need we wonder, then, when Mr Fowlds says that the only reason why there was f.o start made last year wa-s that there were no -students. There will be no students until a proper school is established, and if it is starved, students will very soon leave and go over to Melbourne to com- j plete their course and take a degree there. We are very anxious for agricultural veterinary science to be taught, but until we are satisfied that the Government is in earnest and is prepared to endow this school with a sufficient sum to have a really good school, we had better take advantage of the school in Melbourne ! where Professor Gilruth is the head." j