ENSURING PURE MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 13

ENSURING PURE MILK

TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION MINISTER URGED TO ACT THE TESTING OF HERDS [ [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NAPIER, Thursday An investigation into the need of ensuring milk supplies free from tuberculosis infection was urged upon the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fra,ser, to-day by a special committee set up 5 by the Napier Borough Council to inquire into the subject. The Minister , promised that the whole matter would : be investigated by the Health Depart- , ment. , The recommendations of the commitj tee were as follows: —(1) That the I number of cases of surgical tuberculosis admitted to the four base hospitals _ I during the past year be collected; (2) that non-pulmonary tuberculosis be made a notifiable disease; (3) that wherever such case is notified all herds, when possible, supplying an infected household during the previous year be subjected to a tuberculin test, records of such testing to bo kept apart from * routine testing ; (4) that steps be taken to instituto a veterinary course at the New Zealand University; (5) that all ' municipal milk supplies be from tuberculin tested herds; (6) that all tested cows have a tattoo brand on the ear. In submitting the recommendations the committee pointed out that the public generally was aware of the imi portance of the tuberculin test for cows. It had been definitely established that of the milk being sold in New Zealand to-day nearlj r 2 per cent was ■ contaminated with living tubercle bacilli, and it rested with the Government to take adequate steps to stamp out the disease, as it originated from this source. Following closely upon the heels of the tuberculin test came the need for ensuring the general cleanliness of milk supplied for human consumption, continued the statement. Out of 20 or 30 tests carried out on the milk supplied to the population in Napier more than half fell short of grade A milk as laid down by English authorities. If legislation making milk reasonably safe and clean was passed it would mean that the consumption of milk in New Zealand would increase. In the past the consumption in New Zealand had averaged 24 gallons a head a, year, which compared unfavourably with 60 gallons in Scandinavia and over 50 gallons in the United States.