HEALTH OF STOCK

Southland Times, Issue 21091, 24 May 1930, Page 11

HEALTH OF STOCK

A NOVEL PROPOSAL. SCHEME FOR VETERINARY SERVICE. CONFERENCE REMIT APPROVED. Considerable interest was aroused at the conference of the Farmers’ Union yesterday afternoon when a remit regarding a proposed scheme for the supplying of veterinary service to farmers was brought down by the Gore sub-executive. The remit, which was proposed by Mr D. Dickie, was as follaws : “That this conference recommends to the Board of Agriculture for its fullest consideration, the scheme for the provision of a more adequate veterinary service for live stock owners in New Zealand, as outlined by Mr William Pierson, M.R.C.W.T., B.Sc., and which provides—(l) The appointment of fully qualified veterinarians in all districts where sufficient support is forthcoming; (2) Their services to be available at a small fee to all who agree to contribute the specified levies; (3) Levies to be payable at schedule rates on all live stock owned by those electing to become members; (4) Salaries to be guaranteed up to £lOOO, including fees earned; (5) The whole to be controlled by a central board.” a “In introducing this important matter to the members of this conference, and perhaps, at the same time, to all live stocky owners in New Zealand; I would like to make a few general remarks,” Mr Dickie began. “In view of the great losses from disease and death among live stock, no apology is needed for bringing forward, for your careful consideration, constructive proposals which may lead to the prevention of at least part of these losses, ’lhe scheme has been proposed by one who is an expert and I might say an enthusiast in,regard to veterinary work. The scheme is an original one, in that, as far as we know, no such scheme is in operation in any part of the world. This being so, it is hoped that, the outline now being presented, will, with your capable and intelligent assistance, prove to be the foundation of a useful and efficient organization. The details of the scheme are: a “(1) The main object of this scheme is to provide for the appointment of a sufficient number of fully qualified veterinary surgeons to meet the requirements of all localities (where a sufficient number of live stock owners are willing to guarantee the necessary levies). The salaries of these veterinaries to be guaranteed and if necessary subsidized from a general fund to bring them up to a fixed minimum, of say £lOOO. “(2) Only those electing to become contributors to the scheme to be liable for the levies or entitled to the benefits of the scheme. (A minimum contribution will probably have to be fixed to prevent undue advantage being taken of the veterinary’s services, by owners of only a very few animals.) “(3) The financing of the scheme: It is suggested that' (a) that the necessary fund be raised by way of a levy annually at a fixed date, on the stock carried at that date (as shown in an annual return to be furnished to the controlling board by the contributor); (b) It is suggested that the levies should be on the following classes of stock and at the rates shown: Horses, working, 1/- per head; other horses, over one year, station horses, etc., 1/- per 40; race horses (any age), 10/- per head; milking cattle, 1/- per head; other cattle, over 1 year, station run, etc., 1/- per 40; sheep, 1/- per 100; dogs, 6d per head; (c) It is further suggested that this fund may or may not be supplemented by subsidies from the meat and dairy control boards, and in the initial stages of the organizing, by a subsidy from the Government. “(4) It is suggested that a flat rate of 10/- per visit be charged; a charge being necessary to prevent swamping with trivial requests for the ‘vet’s’ services. Extra would be charged for various operations, and a schedule of charges for such and of the prices of the common stock medicines, would be drawn up. It might be necessary to import drugs' under the scheme, and for the veterinarian to dispense the same. “(5) Services: It is-suggested that the ‘vet.’ should advise on any questions relating to the health, breeding and feeding of live stock, and that he perform any necessary operations, such as calving, foaling, removal of tumors, etc. (It is intended that the ‘vet.’ shall when necessary do the actual work with the assistance available.) “(6) The Working of the Scheme:' It should be worked through a central clearing house, say in Wellington. All returns and levies would be forwarded to this office. The veterinarian to forward, say, half-yearly to the central office, the duplicate forms showing services rendered dulysigned by his clients. (This provision is necessary, as it is intended only to subsidize the ‘vet.’s’ earnings to bring his remuneration up to the guaranteed amount.) “(7) The Controlling Board: It is suggested that this should be, in the meantime, nominated by the Government, the Farmers’ Union, the A. and P. Associations or the Royal Society. The chairman of the board would be a qualified veterinary surgeon, employed by the Government. "(8) Officers and Staff: To be appointed by the controlling board. (It is proposed to select fully trained and qualified veterinary surgeons from the veterinary colleges in England. Having a qualified veterinarian at the head of the controlling board will help greatly to assure the appointment of suitable men.) “(9) Accumulation of Funds: It is expected that, in course of time as the value of the organization becomes more generally recognized, that funds will accumulate, and these funds will be available for each object as: (a) The reduction of the nominal fee for visits to a minimum; (b) The provision of actual compenhation for stock losses; (c) Veterinary scholarships for farmers’ sons and others interested in live stock; (d) Moneys for research work. (In this connection there are no institutions in this country where young men can train for veterinary work.) “(10) Suggestions for the Organzing and Promotion of the Scheme: (a) The backing or support of the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union; (b) Financial aid; a grant from the Government to start the scheme; (c) A committee of farmers and veterinary representatives to direct the inauguration of the scheme; (d) Legislation setting up the required board of control and defining its powers and duties; also providing the necessary finance to start the scheme, which is intended to become self-supporting. “In the event of this scheme being given effect to by Parhament, the procedure would probably be on the following lines: The central board would be appointed, including farmers’ representatives and the veterinarian chairman. Applications would be invited from districts wishing to take advantage of the scheme and which are willing to guarantee levies on their live stock to an amount fixed by the board as sufficient to meet the ‘vet.’s’ salary or subsidy on his earnings. The central board would get in touch with qualified men, willing to accept appointment at the salary and on the terms decided on by the board. As some form of local control would be necessary, regulations governing the formation and functions of local associations would have to be framed. “The following points should be noted: The scheme is intended to provide a more adequate veterinary service for those districts which are willing to help themselves. The higher the levies the smaller the district the veterinarian frill have to attend to. It is not intended to appoint ‘vets.’ wholesale all over the country, but any districts in which sufficient support is forthcoming will be able to secure one for the exclusive service of the guarantors. The paragraph referring to stock medicines is worth consideration. It is held by some who ought to know .that the prices at which some of. these, are sold at is much too high. “In conclusion, the proposals are put forward as a basis for discussion and it. rests with the farmers themselves, whether the scheme gees to the public in the form it now is, or whether you can suggest improvements, or whether you consider it impracticable at the present time. In any case I hope you will discuss it as a reasonable

proposal by a practical man and give it the full and careful consideration that it deserves.”

The president said that the treatment of stock diseases was becoming more important as time went on. The details of the scheme as outlined by Mr Dickie had been submitted to the branches and some had considered that the proposed fees were excessive. He would like the conference in the first instance to consider and if possible give its support to the principle of the scheme. The fees which had been suggested had been set down as the sum necessary to provide a thoroughly satisfactory service, but would be subject to revision on the scheme being adopted. Mr W. Couser seconded the adoption of the remit. He said, the members of the Mataura Island branch were prepared to support the scheme. They were satisfied that it was not worth the expense to bring a veterinary surgeon from Invercargill to his locality to treat single animals. .Mr W: 11. Ward said he thought the suggested salary of £lOOO per annum was too high. It amounted to placing the officers on a higher plane than the farmers, as very few earned more than £lOOO a year. He also hoped that local young men could be trained as veterinary officers. Mr Peter Arnott spoke in support of the scheme. He said the dairymen would have to bear the heaviest burden of the expense of the scheme and also they would derive the greatest benefit. He hoped that delegates who had received instructions to vote against "the scheme would consider the' details very carefully before exercising their votes. Mr A. R. Johnston also spoke in support of the scheme and said he was convinced there was need for such a scheme. Mr S. Shaw expressed opposition on the grounds that the proposed salaries were too high. z . • Mr L. Hill expressed similar sentiments. Mr E. K. Sim said his branch had considered that they would not derive great benefit, but they did not wish to take up a dog-in-the-manger attitude and deprive others of the service by their opposition. It was clearly realized that farmers could not be forced to contribute unless they were quite prepared to do so. Mr T. Giller said if the veterinary officers were able to save the lives of a number of valuable animals the service would be very useful. ‘ Mr T. Hanning expressed the opinion that a practical farmer was able to deal more effectively with stock troubles than a veterinary surgeon. Mr T. Major said he was prepared to support the scheme. Mr J. Johnston said sound veterinary advice was very valuable, and his own experience had been that the services of Mr Peirson had saved him several hundred pounds. Mr A. Orr also spoke in support of the scheme. In reply Mr Dickie said that much of the criticism had turned on the question of the salaries of the officers. This was still open to revision as were the levies on stock. ' The remit was carried.