VETERINARY OFFICERS (Shortage)

Mr Goh Tong Liang asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry in view of the shortage of veterinary officers to cope with the needs of the farmers, whether he will take immediate steps to increase appreciably the staff of the Veterinary Department.

Mr Marshall: If it please you, Sir, I fear it is a long reply, because I believe in giving full information. May I respectfully suggest that sometimes, unless there is special reason to the contrary, it would be helpful to the Assembly and save its time if questions could normally be put down for written answers? However, here is my answer to the hon. Member's question: Yes, Sir. The Government is fully aware of the urgent need to expand the veterinary services available to farmers, and, as you will see, active steps have in fact been taken and are being taken at the moment to increase that staff. Increases in the staff of the Veterinary Department were approved in the 1956 Estimates last November. Four junior officers are being now recruited. They will have a van and will be able to operate as a mobile unit from village to village. A new post of storekeeper is also being filled. We are taking steps to recruit a team of 24 farmers - I hope this will appeal to hon. Members - who will be trained by the Department in poultry inoculation work. These farmers will be used full-time with departmental staff for only two days a week and they will be paid for that work. The rest of the week will be spent by them on their own farms. The idea, Sir, is to seek to bring to the farmers a full understanding of these processes. In addition, Sir, arrangements are being made to recruit eight temporary inoculators and two van drivers and to equip them with transport. These services will be used to help the existing staff to combat the recent outbreak of swine fever in the northern part of the island.

The following steps have been taken to strengthen the senior staff. Two assistant veterinary officers are studying overseas for qualifications which will enable them to be appointed to veterinary officer posts in 1959. Three veterinary scholarships have been awarded for study abroad to students of whom two should return in 1957 and one in 1959. Four further veterinary scholarships will be awarded this year for study abroad, and the recipients are expected to return in 1961.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Mr Speaker, Sir, is it because the Chief Minister finds these arduous but constructive duties as Minister for Commerce and Industry difficult that he has decided to ask to be relieved from his duties as Minister

Mr Speaker: It is a different question.

Mr Marshall: It is most improper!

Mr Lim Choon Mong: When will the scheme as envisaged by the Minister for Commerce and Industry start? Can he name a date?

Mr Marshall: You mean the 24 farmers?

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Yes.

Mr Marshall: They are being recruited now. They have to undergo training. I think, for a few weeks in the Department, Sir, so that they will know how to give these inoculations. I really have not got the exact date, but I know that we are proceeding very actively with this scheme. I understand the farmers are very keen on it.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: There seems to be a shortage of senior veterinary officers, and whilst some of them are being sent overseas for training, is the Minister for Commerce and Industry taking any immediate steps to see that there must be officers to help out during the period in between?

Mr Marshall: Therein, Sir lies the fact that I have to give a long oral reply. I will be very glad to hand this statement to my hon. Friend. [Indicating.] It is true that I have not read it out verbatim, but I think he can get the facts. Sir.

Mr Speaker: I think the method to be adopted in matters like this is, if a statement is inordinately long or contains figures, for the Minister to beg leave for that statement or those figures to be published in our Hansard. Mr Marshall, if you say that that is your wish, then all you have to do is to hand in your statement to the Clerk and it will be done.

Mr Marshall: I am grateful to you, Mr Speaker, Sir. If I may then, for the information of this House, repeat what perhaps the others have not also heard? We are recruiting now eight temporary inoculators full-time. We see no possibility of recruiting immediately senior officers, but we are recruiting four junior officers.