MILK SUPPLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 4

MILK SUPPLY.

THE T.B. DANGER. SPECIAL COMMITTEE SET UP. The need for action being taken to ensure that tho milk supply for the city should b© free from infection was stressed at last evening’s meeting of the City Council, when an interview with Dr G. J. Blackmore, which appeared in Saturday’s’ “Star,” was dis cussed. A special committee was set up to go into the matter.

Councillor Clyde Carr moved, pursuant to notice:—“That tho urgent need for consideration of the milk supply for Christchurch in view of the alarming increase of tuberculosis of bone and joint demands the immediate re-opening of the matter, and the appointment of a special committee to investigate tho whole question.”

Councillor Carr said he had before him some very important figures demonstrating the importance of the matter from the health point of view and also figures dealing with the financial considerations involved. The total expenditure in dealing with infectious diseases directly due to an infected milk supply was £5.300 a year and that sum would provide interest on a capital sum of £IOO,OOO. It was not his intention to deal generally with the municipalisation of the milk supply, but rather to stress the need for the pasteurisation or sterilisation of milk. Councillor Carr quoted from an interview with Dr Blackmore under the heading of “ Death in the Milk Jug,” which appeared in Saturday’s “ Star.” They had many institutions costing an enormous sum of money, and, if wise preventive measures were adopted now, the cost of hospitals could be reduced considerably. He had the authority of Dr A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, to say that seventeen cases of diptheria in Christchurch had been found by Dr Pearson to be due to one infected milk supply. It was tho council’s duty to see that the health of the community was safeguarded. They knew that the rigorous inspection provided For by the Government was not being carried out. He had it on the authority of one closely in touch with the business that if the milk were distributed through a central depot in Christchurch as in Wellington the cost need not be any higher than it was at present. He was prepared to move later on that a committee be appointed to deal" with the question. Proceeding, Councillor Carr said his main contention was that in order to encourage producers to supply high grade milk it would be the best to establish a municipal depot. COWS AND CLEANLINESS. Councillor F, R. Cooke seconded the motion. Councillor W. E. Leadley moved an amendment: “ That in view of the reported increase of bone and joint tuberculosis, especially amongst children, this council heartily co-operates with the North Canterbury Hospital Board in its efforts to with this disease, and urges that a more drastic inspection of dairy herds should be undertaken by the Government with a view to eliminating the danger of tubercular infection from the city’s milk supply.” AGAINST MUNICIPALISATION. Councillor Leadley said he was against any extension of municipal trading. The council would not be justified in foisting on the people a municipal milk supply which the people did not want, though he would vote for it if there was no alternative.

Councillor E. J. Howard, M.P.. sail Councillor Leadley had made a “ yesna ” speech. Public health experts had advised the municipalisation of the milk supply years before either Dr Blackmore or Councillor Leadley was born. There was no need for the amendment because the motion only suggested the setting up a commit tee. Dr Blaukmore’s article in Saturday’s “ Star ” had shown there was great need for improvement and he hoped tho council would take action and that there would be no quibbling. Councillor A. W. Beaven seconded the amendment. POISONING THE CHILDREN. Councillor H. T. Armstrong, M.P., said the motion should be carried. He did not care what the Hospital Board conference recommended. His view would still be that municipalisation was the solution, and the power to get it lay in the hands of the council. It" it did not take it the poisoning of chil dren would go on. Councillor J. K. Arcner said the question was far too seribus to be made a party one. He had been astonished by Councillor Leadley’s speech, particularly as he was a member of the Hospital Board. He had misrepresented the position. The member of the Hospital Board who was behind the movement wanted the Council to set up a committee, because it

had the power to go ahead. The Hospital Board had not. It was contemptible to talk about cost and the ratepayers’ money. Councillor Leadley: Who did? Councillor Archer: YouCouncillor Leadley: You are putting up skittles to knock them down. Councillor Archer : I would like to knock you down, sometimes. A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY. Continuing, Councillor Archer said a municipal milk supply was absolutely necessary, and the Council had a grave responsibility. The amendment was ineffective. Councillor W. 11. Winsor said ho believed that Wellington had a better supply than Christchurch. What he wanted to know was whether the pasteurisation of milk in Wellington had reduced T. 8., and information on that point would influence his vote. Councillor E. R. M’Combs said tbe best way to get that information was to set up the committee as recommended by Councillor Carr. Tho question was Urgent and she hoped it would be treated as urgent. The danger was a grave ont?. Councillor C. I*. Agar said the matter affected the health of the community to such an extent that he would like to see it discussed thoroughly. THE MOTION CARRIED. Replying, Councillor Carr said he had no wish at this stage to introduce debatable points into the discussion. At the same time, he firmly believed that the hospital board conference would decide in favour of municipalisation, nnd the establishment of a central depot. The amendment was defeated hr eleven votes to six, the division list being : For—Councillors Williams, M’Kellar, Beanland, Beaven, Leadley, and the Mayor. Against—Councillors Agar, Andrews,

O. W. Anderson, John Anderson, Winsor, Archer, Carr, Howard, M’Combs, Cooke and Armstrong.

The motion was carried and the following committee was set up:—Councillors Archer, Leadley, Carr, M’Kellar, O. W. Anderson and the Mayor.