TUBERCULOSIS BILL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 8

TUBERCULOSIS BILL

PARLIAMENT

COMPENSATION FOR CONDEMNED COWS

INCREASE URGED BY MR BROADFOOT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 22. Greater compensation for town milk cows condemned because of tuberculosis was urged by Mr W. J. Broad- 1 foot (Opposition, Waitomo) when he spoke to the second reading of the Tuberculosis Bill in the House of Representatives this evening. The debate was still in progress when the House adjourned. Mr Broadfoot said that of the 100.000 cows producing milk for town supply in. New Zealand only 9300 were tested last year. Reactors were 5.6 per cent, of the total tested. Of other herds in New Zealand some 11,000 were tested, but the percentage was a very small one of the 1,600,000 milk cows in the country. One factor discouraging farmers from having their herds tested regularly was the inadequate compensation for condemned cows. The maximum payment had recently been increased from £l2 to £2O, but the sum was still niggardly compared with replacement costs, especially for winter milkers. Mr Broadfoot urged close co-opera-tion between the Department of Health, using powers conferred on it by: the bill, and the Department of Agriculture in reducing tuberculosis in herds supplying milk for human consumption. Dr. A. M. Finlay (Government, North Shore) said tuberculosis was a grave if unspectacular scourge. It claimed far more victims than did poliomyelitis, even in times of epidemic, and its mortality rate was 10 times that of poliomyelitis. Mr D. M. Rae (Opposition, Parnell) suggested that it might be possible for the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) to issue a white paper on tuberculosis. Such a paper, with a kindly approach to tuberculosis, might do a great deal to obtain all posisble help and assistance if it reached every home. Early Diagnosis Important

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) said that however important the bill was the administration of it was even more important. It was of tremendous importance that contraction of the disease be ascertained at the earliest possible moment because when treated in the earlx stages cures could be effected. As #ng as adequate care was taken it was possible that nature would effect a cure in cases where the disease was slight and the sufferer need not enter hospital. It was true unquestionably that overcrowding and bad housing conditions contributed to tuberculosis, said Mr Nordmeyer. Other factors which also came into the picture were schools, places where people worked, adequate and well-balanced food, exercise, and recreation. It should be recognised that tuberculosis, though still fairly widespread, was lessening in its intensity over the years and, in the cases of deaths that did occur, there had been a striking downward trend which showed what could be done when co-ordinated steps were taken to grapple with the problem. The danger period of contracting the disease was after a person was 16 years of age and. if there were regular and systematic X-ray examinations of persons between 16 and 30 years, that would be a practicable way of perhaps keeping the disease in check. X-ray examinations did not always detect traces of disease. In addition to X-ray, the use of the vaccine BCG appeared now to offer other means of attacking tuberculosis. said Mr Nordmeyer. Up to the present the vaccine had been in the experimental stage, but now, while no one would claim that use of the vaccine would ensure complete immunity, what could be claimed was that its use could be justified. An officer of the Department of Health, having returned to the Dominion from oversea after studying the use of vaccine, had now reported that the time was opportune for the vaccine to be used in New Zealand. Discussing the treatment of patients in sanatoria, Mr Nordmeyer said it was necessary to ensure that patients did not occupy beds too long. The period of treatment in New Zealand was longer than in some countries, and it was open to investigation whether some patients could not be discharged earlier when conditions for further treatment in their homes were favourable.

Mr C. G. Harker said caution was still necessary in the use of BCG. Although it had been used for some time in Sweden, it was still regarded sceptically in Britain.