MILK SHORTAGE

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 13

MILK SHORTAGE

DIFFIGULTIES IK SUPPLYING SCHORLS WHOLE-MALTED MILK USED IN SOME CASES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 22. “ Milk powder will not be used in any place where there is fresh milk available,” said the Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser), when referring in an interview to-night to the milk-in-schools scheme. “It is correct to say that in many parts of the country the milk-in-schools scheme, which is benefiting daily some 80,000 children in the' Dominion, is meeting with difficulty so far as supplies are concerned. “ One of the reasons for this,” the Minister said. “ has been the untoward season and the other is that the milk suppliers of various country towns were not prepared for such an increased demand on their supply. The result is that winter milk is not available. It is anticipated that in a few weeks’ time these difficulties will be overcome to a very largo extent. “ Tho practice set by the department in obtaining milk wherever possible from certified tuberculin-tested herds with pasteurisation in addition, has been adhered to up to tho present,” Mr Fraser said. “It is true the question ■of substituting dried whole-milk where fresh milk is not available is under consideration, but at present the_ developments are only in the experimental stage. Various wholemilk powders, including nialted-milk powder, are being examined by the Health Department and samples are being l analysed and reported on. These substitutes will not be used unless it is established that they are good, wholesome food approximating as far as possible in nutritive value to fresh milk. “In the Native school at Tokaanu, Dr H. B. Turhott. medical officer of health for the Waikato, is supervising the provision of whole-malted milk,” the Minister added. “I am informed that it is impossible to find supplies of fresh milk for the Native children there, so whole-malted milk has been substituted. I feel that there is every reason to believe that the trial will he successful from a nutritive point of view, but quite definitely milk powder will .not be used in any place wliere there is fresh milk available.”