(2)
altogether satisfactory that Veterinary Assistants on tour only visited 1,459 villa-
ges and treated 15,456 animals as compared with 1,504 villages and 23,028 ani-
mals last year, while castration was performed only in 501 cases as against 635
last year. The decrease in the aggregate work carried out on tour is said to be
due to the transfer of two Veterinary Assistants to Military duty, but as they
were not warned for field service until November this does not fully explain the
falling off.
Finality in the building and equipment of hospitals has not of course
been reached, but some important additions were carried out to those in
Charsadda, Swabi and Nowshera, and the Chief Commissioner is satisfied
that Local Bodies keep the needs of their Veterinary Institutions in mind
subject to their financial ability to meet fresh expenditure.
6. No change was made during the year in the sanctioned scale of
stallions. 12 horse, 7 pony and 17 donkey stallions were actually employed
at stud—being one horse stallion less than the number fixed—and they covered
in all 1,963 mares as against 1,909 last year. 8 stud bulls also were at work
as compared with 11 last year. Much remains to be done undoubtedly in
horse and cattle breeding in the Province, especially in such matters as the
collection and consideration of information regarding young stock, the instruc-
tion of the people in their proper care and the dissemination of information with
regard to the selection of animals for breeding. The most suitable type of
stallion also for the Province has still to be determined and the Superintendent's
remarks on this point are of interest. As regards merino breeding a thorough
enquiry into the condition of the rams in the Mansehra Tahsil and the quality
of their produce was conducted by the Superintendent in July. Merino rams
were first imported into the Province early in 1907 with a view to the
improvement of the indigenous breed and the quality of the fleece. The results
of the experiment so far have been encouraging in the Kagan Valley, but it has
involved Government in considerable expenditure and now that the initial stages
have been passed the replacement of any stock, which is considered necessary,
is a charge which may fairly be borne by the District Board concerned.
7. Horse Shows and Cattle Fairs were held during the year in the
Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan Districts and were successful. Rs. 4,041
spent on these shows were entirely contributed by the Local Bodies. Shows in
other places were for various reasons abandoned. The system of giving prize
money continued and though the argument has been advanced that the main
business at shows and fairs is trade and that the result achieved by the distribu-
tion of prizes is scarcely worth the expenditure, the Chief Commissioner is
inclined to think that the competition between exhibitors adds to the interest
and popularity of shows and fairs and attracts the public.
8. Towards the end of the year sanction was accorded to the important
administrative change involved in the appointment of a separate Superintendent
for the Province and budget provision having been made an incumbent for the
new post should shortly be selected.
The desirability of securing the
undivided attention of the Superintending Officer has been prominently in view
of late owing to the expansion of the Department in many directions in which
there is scope for the activities of the European head. It is no disparagement
to the work performed by Superintendents holding the joint charge to say that
the Chief Commissioner welcomes the new arrangement as one which
substitutes for a system, now obsolete and unsound, the direct local control
essential to the proper administration of the Department.
ORDER.—Ordered, that a copy of the Report and Review be submitted to
the Government of India in the Revenue and Agriculture Department and
that copies be circulated for information.
By order of the Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner
and Agent to the Governor General,
D. B. BLAKEWAY,
Revenue Secretary to the Chief Commissioner
and Agent to the Governor- General,
North- West Frontier Province.