S22 Journal of Agriculture. [8 June, 1908. 



more than a mere formality a very large staff is necessary to efficiently carry 

 out the duties of inspection. Under these circumstances, it was decided that 

 the idea of employing veterinary inspectors only should be abandoned, and 

 instead thereof the main part of the work should be carried out by a body 

 of men known as supervisors under the direction and control of a fully- 

 organized veterinary staff. Accordingly, the Act requires that each super- 

 visor must have had hand -fide practical experience in dairy farming and the 

 allied branches of agriculture, and shall be selected after written and prac- 

 tical examination by examiners appointed by the Governor-in-Council. In 

 such examination, special importance shall be attached to the practical part. 

 The Act further requires that each supervisor shall become personally 

 acquainted, as far as possible, with every owner of a dairy farm, dairy 

 or factory, and the conditions prevailing in the premises of every one 

 licensed under the Act. It is his dut}- to confer with or advise such owner 

 on matters connected with his farm vvhenever instructed to do so by the 

 authority administering the Act, and to inspect and examine all premises, 

 utensils and products, and also all animals and their food and water supply 

 on the farms. 



The provisions of the Act came into force in the Metropolitan area, 

 Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong, on ist July, 1906. Other areas have been 

 brought under the operation of the Act from time to time. At present the 

 Act is in force in eighty -four out of a total of two hundred and six 

 municipalities in the State. 



It will be seen from the above outline of the duties ot the supervisors 

 that the success or failure of the Act depends chiefly on the way in which 

 they carry out their duties. In their hands is the power, not only to efficiently 

 inspect the milk supply, but also to make or mar the prosperity of the 

 farmer. A satisfactory milk supply requires to be profitable to the producer 

 as well as clean and wholesome to the consumer. To produce good milk 

 is an expensive business, requiring a large amount of capital as well as a 

 high level of technical skill. The farmer must build up a high-grade 

 dairy herd, and pro\-ide suitable and sufficient food for them throughout 

 the year. Both these operations are amongst the most difficult in the whole 

 range of agriculture. It will, therefore, be seen that the union of instruc- 

 tors with inspectors is not an accident. Provided the supervisor can gain 

 the confidence of the farmer, he can do more to increase the health and 

 prosperity of the State than falls to the lot of the great majority of 

 citizens. The farmer has to be shown clearly that sound methods of agri- 

 culture are more profitable than thriftless ones. Tact and knowledge are, 

 therefore, prime requisites in the supervisor. While possessing only a 

 sound general knowledge of health and disease in animals, he must be able 

 to act as a veterinary scout to detect the first sxmptoms of disease, and 

 refer them for decision to skilled experts. 



Appointment of Supervisors. 



For public information it may be advisable to indicate in some short 

 detail the manner of selection of the supervisors, in order that an idea of 

 their qualifications for the positions they occupy may be gained. 



The first examination was held in May, 1906, the Board of Exami- 

 ners appointed being Dr. Cherry, Director of Agriculture ; Mr. S. S. 

 Cameron, M.R.C.V.S., Chief Veterinary Officer; Mr. R. Crowe, Superin- 

 tendent of Exports ; and Cr. John Hancock, Dairy Farmer, Colac. 



