14
The original organization of the subordinate department in 1901 did not
achieve all that was expected of it. It was hoped that the same men would work
under the Superintendent, North or South Punjab at horse breeding, as well as
under the Superintendent, Provincial Circle, on duties connected with cattle. This
was found impossible in practice, and. out of 96 men, 26 were detached solely for
horse breeding work, leaving 70 under the Provincial Superintendent. Last
summer, we transferred 34 men to the Army Remount Department, but on account
of the additions described in the Superintendent's report, we now have 85 posts
sanctioned for 28 districts and the 2 colonies, and these have been allotted so as
to give each district a staff equivalent to that which it had before the Department
was provincialised. I have no hesitation in saying that the present personnel is
far superior in efficiency to the old. Most of the old unqualified men, branders,
&c., have left the service and they have been replaced by men who have passed
the three years' course at the Lahore Veterinary College. In addition, profes-
sional supervision has been supplied which was originally almost entirely lacking.
The grant of a fixed travelling allowance at Rs. 10 per month has been greatly
appreciated. Although our grade rates of pay are the lowest in India, it is
gratifying to record that we secured most of the men who passed out of the
Veterinary College last April, and, at the time of writing, we have only 8
vacancies as against 22 on March 31st. The growing popularity of the Depart-
ment is ascribable to the enhanced travelling allowance, to the chance of promotion
to Veterinary Inspectorships, and to the fact that the service is home service.
The six. posts of Veterinary Inspectors on Rs. 75—10—125, one for each
division and for the head-quarters office, have been sanctioned since Captain
Walker wrote his report. These will provide much needed assistance, but I fear
that it will be difficult to fill the posts immediately. Being short of men as it
is, I am reluctant to take men away from district work for promotion until I
can replace them by new appointments.
As was foreshadowed in last year's report, the posts of Superintendents,
North and South Punjab, for horse breeding have been abolished, and we are
now to have two Superintendents, one working under the other, as in Burma.
The Junior Superintendent will have a definite charge of half the Province, and
if he is sufficiently experienced, he will have the maximum of independence com-
patible with the general responsibility and supervision of the Senior Superinten-
dent. The Senior Superintendent, besides directly administering half the
Province, will control the Department and its policy. There will thus be two
men to do the work which Captain Walker has had to do single-handed, and this
will be a great gain. The task was too much for one officer, and, if the Depart-
ment continues to expand, I am in doubt as to whether two men will be able to
cope with it effectually. A drawback to the present arrangement is that our two
Superintendents have to administer the vast area of North-West Frontier Province
as well as the Punjab. I understand that this is unavoidable having regard to
the present strength of the Civil Veterinary Department, but I hope that it will
be found possible to detach the Frontier Province in the near future.
There only remains to re-arrange the office establishment and proposals will
shortly be laid before Government. The reorganization of the Department has
been an intricate matter, but it is practically complete, and I think that the
Department is now on a sound and satisfactory footing.
VII.—TOURS.
Tours.
85. Captain Walker's inspection work is as follows:—All the Veterinary
Hospitals except Umballa on one or more occasions; 30
Veterinary Assistants and their equipments; stud bulls at
various places; outbreaks of disease in eight districts; two dâk lines and 70
horse boxes and cattle trucks. He attended nine fairs and he travelled 9,071 miles
by rail and 960 miles by road. Mr. Oliver travelled 7,585 miles by rail and 509
miles by road. He attended seven shows and visited eight districts besides inspect-
ing horse and cattle trucks at various railway stations. Captain Trydell visited
the districts in his charge, inspected the Kohála dâk line, and attended three
horse shows. He was a member of several Examination Boards and he travelled
11,925 miles by rail and 1,344 miles by road.