THE PURITY OF MILK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 8

THE PURITY OF MILK.

. WHAT IS A FAIR TEST? There has lately been much discussion in Victorians to whether the Government standard for piivo'milk is too high. An agitation for a lower-standard has been carried on for some time, but according to. - recent ■ advices the- ■■ Foods. Standard Committee for the State has decided to maintain the test at 3.5 per cent: of butter-fat, Tho Victorian Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Graham) does not.agree, ■with this. The, standard, ho .says, is too high, l and to retain it will do much injusticeto honest vendors ofi. milk.' He is .'collecting a volume, of evidence regarding cases in which milk from good cows is'-'found-, to'., giye.'a'. -lower ..test' than 3.n per cent. Pure milk from tho best dairies in Victoria.' 'is -liable to be condemned as the law .'stands. Mr.: Graham, according to tho Melbourne "Argus," has received news from New Zealand of efforts which are being made there to alter the standard from 3.25.: He says he is in possession of, a. remarkable instance of the absurdity of the legal tost being either 15-01, even- 3.25 per .'cent, of butter-fat. There is a. State farm in New ' Zealand carrying 80 cows. Their milk w&s tested on-two successive and on each occasion it ,was.found to bo below the. legal .'standard. vTJKe .'first timethe. butter-' ;fat .contents- were ,3.0*2, and the .second 3.205. Theso. cows were of. good type. . ■The reference here is to. the Wcreroa State Farm,, where the tests' fell to,a very low point-' about a year:ago. The average factory test throughout 'New Zealand is about 3.9' percent. It is, .of course, quite .possible to have pure 'milk direct from the. cow'.at a very,lpw : :.test—at ;Dalefield, for. instance!' one: cow. in--the herd test .now'.being"conducted.pave as, little as 2.0 per ' cent.. of butter-fat for one, '-'month. The real; point ,Ts whether it is. ; desirablo to; ; have.;milfc;o,f: >iicli.;;.'inferior. .quality .sold in cities consumption.