354 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 June, 1916. 



GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATION OF STALLIONS. 



NINTH ANNUAL REPORT (SEASON 1915) ON THE VETERINARY EXAMINA- 

 TION OF STALLIONS FOR GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE OF SOUNDNESS AND 

 APPROVAL. 



By W. A. N. Robertson, B.V.Sc., Chief Veterinary Officer. 



The ninth year of the examination of stallions for Qovernment 

 certification has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, notwith- 

 standing the many difficulties which were encountered, which originated 

 from the depletion of the veterinary staff by the exigencies of the 

 European war. Only one member of the staff was unable to " fall in " 

 behind the flag, to the honovir of which Australia has so liberally 

 subscribed. 



Fortunately, we were able to add one officer to our staff, in the person 

 of Mr. W. M. Lerew, G.M.V.C., who has had considerable experience 

 as a practitioner in the Hamilton district, and who had been unable to 

 volunteer for active service. By the courtesy of the Defence Depart- 

 ment, we were, in addition, enabled to call upon the services of Lieut. - 

 Colonel E. A. Kendall and Captain R. IST. Johnstone for a limited 

 period, such officers not having left our shores. 



Finally, by requisitioning the service of Mr. W. J. Cother, Chief 

 Inspector of Stock, who had previously been attached to the veterinary 

 staff, we were able to fulfil all engagements, which had — in anticipation 

 of difficulties to be encountered — been considerably curtailed, and here 

 I would like to express my thanks to those agricultural societies who, 

 in response to a circular letter pointing out the difficulties of the situa- 

 tion, arranged in some cases for amalgamation with adjacent societies 

 or for strict adherence to the time-table, and in others, where no horses 

 were coming forward, for abandonment of the parade. In this way we 

 were enabled to get through the season by conducting 96 parades instead 

 of 143 as in the previous year. 



Arrangements for Coming Season. 



For the coming season even greater difficulties are to be encountered, 

 for we will be unable to rely upon the Defence Department for assist- 

 ance, the officers concerned having either left or about to leave for servica 

 abroad, whilst Mr. Lerew is engaged in the work of purchasing remounts. 

 It is possible the latter officer will be available when the parades com- 

 mence, but in order to keep appointments as far as possible a time-table 

 has been arranged on the basis of one officer only being available. In 

 order to get through with the examination before the shows and mating 

 season, this will necessitate a slight curtailment on last year's operations, 

 and in some cases the distance between places at which parades are 

 arranged will be extended. Some owners will probably require 

 to travel their stallions a greater distance than in the past, but it is 

 hoped that the difficulties will be appreciated ; and that consideration 

 which has been shown in the past will be extended over the coming 



