6
No. 2486, REVENUE, 19TH AUGUST 1912.
(iii) Fairs and Shows.—Only two shows were held during the year under
report.
Tiruppur Cattle and Pony Show.—As a cattle show this was not a great success
although a good many animals were brought to the fair. The pony classes however
were well attended, and on the recommendation of the Superintendent, Government
sanctioned the award of two silver medals in these classes for the produce of Govern-
ment stallions.
The Ongole Show was held at the end of March, which is a month later than
usual. This, however, did not appear to affect it adversely, for the number of exhibits
was larger than last year and the general standard of the exhibits, especially the
younger animals, showed a distinct improvement.
IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
The veterinary staff at the close of the year under report consisted of three
Inspectors and 59 assistants. Last year the numbers were three Inspectors and 54
assistants. Nine new assistants were appointed during the year. Seven of them
being graduates of the Madras College and two from Bombay. Four resigned their
appointments during the year.
The Board during the year sanctioned the proposal of the Superintendent to
appoint three more Inspectors, but the arrangements for doing this had not been com-
pleted by the end of the year. At present each of the three Inspectors has seven to
nine districts in his circle, and this is obviously far more than he can manage. So
much of his time is taken up in travelling and performing routine inspections that
he is unable to attend any outbreak reports and render his assistants the necessary
help and benefit of his experience that he should. However, with only 4 districts
under his charge an Inspector in future should be a most useful officer, both in
checking assistants' work, and personally attending the more serious outbreaks of
contagious disease.
2. The work of the head clerk of the Superintendent's office, M. Ramalingam
Pillai, was found unsatisfactory and he was retransferred to the Boards's office on 20th
January 1912. In his place the Board sent M. R. Ry. Srinivasa Aiyar who has shown
commendable zeal and energy in trying to make efficient a very disorganised and
congested office. During the year Government sanctioned a camp clerk and two
additional peons for the Superintendent's office.
V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The cost of the department as shown in table XIV-A appended to the report is
Rs. 97,501-8-5 which is almost the same as last year when the cost amounted to
Rs. 97,014-15-10. There was an increase both under superintendence and subordi-
nate establishment due to the appointment of a Deputy Superintendent and additional
veterinary assistants and there was a decrease in the Imperial charges.
VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
A certain amount of discussion took place over the Superintendent's proposal
that touring Veterinary assistants should be required to spend at least 20 days a
month on tour, whether attending to outbreak reports or not, before Government
finally approved of the scheme.
The Superintendent hopes that by this veterinary assistants will be brought
more closely into touch with the ryots even in the outlying parts of a district many
of whom have undoubtedly not yet heard of the existence of the Veterinary Depart-
ment, and be able to impress upon all of them, by giving advice and treatment in
simple cases, the fact that a veterinary assistant should be looked upon as a friend of
the ryot and not an official whose approach to a village is to be discouraged at all
costs. It is to be expected that when this has been more or less accomplished as has
been noticed in other provinces ryots themselves realizing his usefulness will demand
the services of the veterinary assistant in their village, even when the munsif has
neglected to report the outbreak of disease in it.