lo April, 191 i.] Government Certification of Stallions. 



265 



certiticate that can be recognised by this Government, and for which a 

 Victorian certificate can be substituted, is one issued officially upon behalf 

 of the societies named in the regulations, not one given by any practising 

 veterinary surgeon. 



Special Examinations. 



In order to meet the convenience of stallion owners, who through acci- 

 dental circumstances have failed to submit their horses for examination at 

 one of the advertised parades, a regulation was made during the past 

 season providing for a special examination. The conditions under which 

 this special examination can be availed of are shown in the regulations at- 

 tached. During the season this convenience was taken advantage of by 

 five horse owners who had been unable to attend at the nearest parade 

 arranged for. 



Appeals. 



The appeal provision under clause 5 of the regulations was taken ad- 

 vantage of in three cases during the past season. The first case was in 

 respect of a stallion refused a certificate on account of unsoundness. In 

 this case, the Appeal Board appointed by the Minister was unanimous in 

 dismissing the appeal. In the second case, the certificate had been re- 

 fused by the examining officer on account of being considered below 

 standard of approval. In this case the appeal was upheld and certificate 

 issued. In the third case, while the rejection was for the same reason, 

 the Board upheld the action of the veterinary officer, and dismissed the 

 appeal. Such a result cannot be other than gratifying, both to the staff 

 and to the stallion owners. That, out of the 217 cases in which certificates 

 were refused, only three owners should avail themselves of the right of 

 appeal, may be taken as an indication of the confidence they repose in the 

 veterinary staff in the performance of their duties ; whilst the fact that the 

 only successful appeal was on the question of approval as regards breed, 

 type and conformation, an aspect of the examination which the veterinary 

 officers have had no desire to undertake, but still in respect of which they 

 have exercised their power in 78 cases during the past season, is an indica- 

 tion that even under such circumstances the great majority of owners have 

 been satisfied with their judgment. Even so, the necessity which has been 

 previously pointed out for a staff of competent judges to strengthen this 

 side of the work, is evident. 



Examining Officers. 

 As in previous years the desire to make the examinations as uniform as 

 possible was ever present, and to this end four officers only were engaged in 

 carrying on the work. The results of their individual examinations are 

 shown in the subjoined table. 



VI. — Officers' Examinations of Stallions, Season 1910-11. 



