THE MILK TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 20 March 1908, Page 2

THE MILK TEST.

OPPOSITION BY THE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION". The recently issued regulation of the Health Department fixing the percentage of butter-fat, in milk supplied for human consumption at :5.20. was discussed at the meeting of the general committee of the Auckland Agricultural and T*a-<toral Association to-day. The general opinion was that the standard fixed was too high.

Mr. Isaac Grey, who introduced the question, said that the conclusion he had arrived at after studying the question was that lie was prepared to admit that if from one end of the year to the other were taken the .average generally attained the standard of ;)..">. But in the months of September, October, and November that standard could not We attained, and the result might be that a good many of the suppliers would tind themselves in the Police Court. He did not think that the authorities desired that: they might want to protect the public, but the standard should be reasonable. There should be some give-and-take in the matter. The standard had been raised from 2.5 to 3.25 —a very considerable increase. Perhaps if Ihe standard were 3 it would be within the mark. Ho had looked over many tests, and the average was 3.25, but last spring; they had in one instance, of which be had'heard, it had run down to 3. If cows, after a severe winter when putting fat in their backs, could not. also put it into tlir milk. The Auckland people should be prepared to take the thick with the thin. He believed that they were very well served In the matter of milk supply, and thought that the present regulations were brought in in a crude state, and would require amendment. Mr. K. Hall (secretary) stated that in only seven States of IY-.A. was the percentage above ". while in F.ngland it also averaged :J. In Denmark, out of 1.17' i herds tested—herds which had been under process of improvement for many vra rs — SSI were unable to reach the standard imposed here, 3.'2f>. Experiments had shown that the. percentage of fnt was greater in the evening than in the morning, and thus a farmer, whose average, might be correct, would be penalised for a low percentage at the one milking. "Mr. V. Kerr-Taylor brUeved that 'he standard was too high. 'I "''re were *casoiw in the year when many herds could not ntiain the 3.'2r> lest. Tlu<y should ask the Department f> llx the test lit :» per cent. Jf the present regulation were adhered to there would W many prosecutions. ilr Knbt. Hull thought that the test should vary with the season. H was all very well to say that cows should give the same test all the year round, but they could not lie compelled to do so. It was a pity that those who drew up the regulations did not make themselves acquainted with the laws of production. The new regulation meant that people would have to pay a higher price for their milk.

2Ur. R. Dick said that in American States an allowance was made for the midwinter month?. Tests with Surrey herds showed that ")2 per cent showed a standard of ".i or less, so tliat under this regulation many of the suppliers would have been prosecuted. In reply to a. question. Mr. Hall said that he had been informed that it milk testeu was ound to hp under the standard a test could be made of milk taken directly from the cow, and if the two lest? coincided, then no penalty could be enforced. He had so far received no verification of this information.

Mr. J. Ambury said that in n number of herds supplying his firm with milk the test in October and November was under U. although this milk had not been tampered with in any nay. Mr. Gray moved: •■That in the opinion of this association the standard fixed hy the Health Department is too high, and that the percentage should be three." Mr. Kerr-Taylor seconded. Mr. Thompson moved ai an amendment: "That the executive of the association confer with the exeentive of the Milk Vendors' and Suppliers' Associations, and confer on the question, the Health Department being invited to attend." Mr. G. J. (iarland seconded. Mr. Ambury thought that this wai unnecessary. There was no difficulty in attaining a .'! percentage except under exceptional circumstances, and the vendors had already expressed the opinion that this was a fair percentage. Subsequently tho motion was withdrawn, and the amendment was uriani-vou-ily agreed to.