HUMANISED MILK. AM INFANT NECESSITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1908, Page 3

HUMANISED MILK. AM INFANT NECESSITY.

INTERESTS OF ADULTS. A DIVIDED CITY COUNCIL. An important recommendation was made to the City Council last night by its Milk Supply and PuWic Health Committee, regarding tho supply of milk for infants' food. The committee's recommendation was in the following terms :— "The committee has to report that after consulting with Drs. Mason and Frengley. with reference to th? Eupply of milk for infante, it has to recommend that a humanising milk depot be established in the city, the cost of which establishment is estimated at £2250, with a maintenance, charge of about £1000 per* annum, and a net income of £400 per annum._ Your committee desires a direction from the council ai to whether it shall proceed with the work." In moving .the adoption of the report Councillor Murdoch explained that the committee believed tho system would result in the city getting a better supply of milk than it had previously had, especially if samples were, taken at irregular intervals. ■ QUALITY OF MILK. Councillor Smith seconded tho motion, and spoke of the need for taking all practical step:; to save to the Dominion the infant li\es it was .now losing by avoidable disease. A statement had h°en telegraphed from Auckland to the 1 effect that Wellington had the worst milk sinply in the colony. He did not. believe that was true, but he did say that our supply was not as good as it should be. founrillor Luke* was sorry that the committee had not gone- a stop further than its report showed Not oDly should tho milk supply for infants be impro\€il, but a bolder rrheme should he gono in for. which would recommend the receiving of the milk in a central depot, from which it could be given out to retailers, in a pure form, for distribution to customers. He- moved, as an amendment, that the report be referred back to the* committees, with an indication that it should bo made wider, so as to embrace tho suggestion above formulated. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Cohen, vho spoke of the great need for having a milk supply as perfect ns it could be got. Councillor Godber contended that in vestigations made by tho committee had shown Councillor Luke's suggestion to be an impossible one. under local condicions. If the committee's mendation ivas given off eft to the present urgent needs would be m?i. In answer to the Mayor, Councillor Murdoch said that the chief health officer had stated that the humanising of milk was a comparatively simple matter, that could ho easily taught to any intelligent woman by trained nurses. The Mayor: Up to whit nge would children be required to take this humanised milk Councillor Cohen: Fifty! THE COST. Continuing his remarks, Councillor Murdoch said thf estimated cost of humanizing tho milk was 9d per gallon It W2s believed _by the committee that tho best way to move in this matter was to get a portion of the scheme in the manner recommended by this report, though, personally, he held the' opinion that it -\nuld be \vell to go in for'-d. comprehensive scheme. , Councillor Hindmarsh supported the committee's recommendation, on the ground thit tho scheme, if given effect to. would be a help to a better whole. Councillor Smith cupported the committee's pi-ouosal. The council had b?9n twitted by the public and the newspapers with having done nothing in the matter of a milk supply; but, as a matter of fact, it had done a great, deal. The committee was now being asked to go in for a more comprahersivc scheme, but it was in Councillor Smith's memory that after exhaustive enquiries a former committee brpught down recommendations ' going further in tho direction that some councillors had just been asking for, and on that occasion it was not favourably entertained by the council. The Mayor said he had no memory of such n course being. taken, but Councillor Smith maintained that the itcords of the committee would support his statements. / The motion for the adoption of the report was lest, and Councillor Luke's amendment was then carried on the \cu'ces. A