MILK TESTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 18

MILK TESTING

"AN UNFAIR ATTACK" COUNCIL UPHOLDS SYSTEM SATISFACTION WITH RESULTS Further criticism of the action of Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health, in expressing dissatisfaction with the arrangements made by the .Milk Council for testing milk, was voiced at a meeting of the council yesterday. A communication from the Hospital Board, where the matter was first raised, and press statements by the chairman of the council, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and by Dr. Hughes, were received. The chairman said Dr. Hughes now qualified what had been inferred to be a general statement to the iact that his dissatisfaction applied personally to Mr. L. S. Spackman, who was conducting the tests for the council. It was gathered that only tests conducted at the Auckland Hospital would satisfy Dr. Hughes. These included only one test not carried out for the council, and ho had been told by the Government analyst that this was of no value to the council. TJfe council conducted 125 tests a week, and at the hospital rate of half-a-guinea it would have a weekly bill of over £65. The present tests cost about Is 3d each. Department's Tests Compared with the Milk Council's 125 tests, the Health Department was having only about four bacteriological tests a week carried out at the hospital, and it was evident that the organisation there could not cope with a further 125. The other 50-odd tests obtained by the Health Department weekly wore merely chemical ones "It is a most unfair and unjust tiling that one professional man should make an attack on another in this way." continued Mr. Hutchison.

"I am fully qualified to do all the work the council requires," said Mr. Spackman, who had been invited to be present, when asked if he wished to make a statement. "I am not a bacteriologist, and have not claimed to be, but the agar plate tests are nftt usually regarded as bacteriological work, and are being performed by milk chemists throughout New Zealand." He was quite confident that his results would compare with any conducted elsewhere. Dr. Hughes appeared to base his attack on the fact, that lie could not conduct tests for tuberculosis, but the council had never required these. He had had extensive experience in milk research, and the results had appeared in overseas textbooks and publications. " Government Matter " "Dr. Hughes is very unfortunate in his reference to tubercolosis." said Mr. J. S. Montgomorie. "That must bo dealt with not in the jugs, but at the herd. It is a Government matter, and is outside our scope." /'The position is that we have in three months brought about an astounding improvement on conditions that had existed for years under Health Department control," said Mr. H. P. Burton.

It was decided to point out tho council's feeling on the matter to the Hospital Board and to Dr. Hughes, and to place on record the fact that the council was perfectly satisfied with tho manner in which the tests had been carried out on its behalf. It was further resolved that the board and Dr. Hughes be advised that they wore at liberty to check the methods employed by Mr. Spackman