CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 136, 11 June 1934, Page 6

CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

NEED FOR MILK.

(To the Editor.)

The. Minister of Defence commented most favourably on the fine physical cffects of military training on the youngsters at the King's Birthday parado in tho Domain and was greatly impressed thereby. The majority of those youngsters were born and reared at a time when milk was cheap and their parents could well afford to give them plenty of it. No amount of' military training or physical jerks can have the same affect on growing youths, mentally or physically, as plenty of good, fresh milk given to them at the right age. As the cow is now tho foster mother of the race, the. recently proposed expenditure of £2500 per 'annum, by the Milk Council for expenses might be more profitably employed in compensating farmers to replace any T.B. cows in their herds at present supplying Auckland with milk for the children—they could then have it in a healthy, raw state.

"Boiled milk is spoiled milk," and chemical analysis, confirms this. In the late war G6 per cent of the male population examined were found unfit for overseas service and by present indications tlie penny wise, pound foolish policy, in .stinting milk to tlio children will result in having GG per cent fit for physical work and probably largo additions to our already large hospital in tho future. There seems no good reason why non-speculators in land should be deprived of the right to supply first-class milk to the children in the city, irrespective of the distance of their farms; also it would, appear that tho consumer in town lias paid some 10/ per gallon for cream at a 25 per cent test long enough, especially when the dairy farmer receives only some 2/6 per gallon for cream at a 45 per cent test at the factory for butter making. Let us hope this vital question lias not developed into a case of save tho mortgagee at the. expense of tho children. F.M.