3
the work for the present. The establishment of a Veterinary hospital at
Dacca has however been sanctioned, and the building work will bo taken
up shortly.
8. The number of animals sent to the College Hospital for treatment
in connection with cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
in Calcutta still continues to be small in comparison with the number of
prosecutions instituted. The Governor in Council has recently drawn the
attention of Magistrates in Calcutta and Alipore to this matter, and has
pointed out the futility of punishing owners in cruelty cases by nominal fines
without taking advantage of the provisions of the Act, under which animals
may be sent to the hospital for medical treatment. It is reported that unfit
animals are frequently put to work again immediately after the conclusion
of the criminal proceedings. His Excellency in Council hopes that trying
Magistrates will cease to regard their duties under the Act as completed
when they have punished the owner in fault, and that they will make a
reasonable use of their powers to send disabled and diseased animals to the
hospital for treatment before they are allowed to resume work.
9. The Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Department again
remarks on the indifference displayed by cattle-owners and the cultivators
generally to the efforts which are being made to improve the breed of cattle
in this Presidency. It is reported that very little advantage is taken of the
stud bulls serving in the various districts which are the property of the
Jail authorities or of the District Boards. His Excellency in Council desires
again to impress upon the officers of the Agricultural Department the
urgent need for utilizing every opportunity of explaining and demonstrating
the benefits that may be derived from the improvement of the live-stock
of the country. It is hoped that the cattle farm, which has recently been
established at Rangpur, will yield results which will convince the cultivators
that it will pay them to devote attention to the improvement and proper
care of their cattle.
10. The Governor in Council desires to acknowledge the excellent
work done during the year by Major Smith, the Principal of the Bengal
Veterinary College, and by Mr. Kerr, Superintendent of the Veterinary
Department. His Excellency in Council notices with regret the remarks
made by Mr. Kerr regarding the apathy and failure to appreciate their
responsibilities displayed by many of the Veterinary Assistants.
The
improvement of the pay and prospects of the service when sanctioned,
should attract a bettor class of men, and the services of those who continue
to be wilfully inefficient should be dispensed with.
The Governor in
Council observes with pleasure that the work done by the Inspectors and
by the staff of the Bengal Veterinary College was generally satisfactory.
By order of the Governor in Council,
J. H. KERR,
Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.
No. 9245.
Copy forwarded to the Director of Agriculture, Bengal, for information
with reference to his letter No. 4672, dated the 17th July 1914.
By order of the Governor in Council,
J. N. MITRA.
Under-Secy, to the Govt. of Bengal.
Calcutta ;
The 27th September 1914.
B S. Press—18-9-1914—3048C-530—C. A, P.