PLUNKET SOCIETY HEARS OF T.B. MILK

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1946, Page 7

PLUNKET SOCIETY HEARS OF T.B. MILK

♦ ■> -rPress; - Association v

Bu TelearavTi -

" WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. f Discussion rcgardiug compulsoiyx ; testing oi dairy herds occupied dele- ' gatcs to the Domiuion eonference of. the Plunket Society tlirougliout las't. evening.' /'■, Mr. W. C. Barry, ofiicor in chargh of the livcstock division of the Qe.parimeut qf- Agriculture, .and Dr.- J. ,F-.. : Filqier, presidenj; of the.. New Zealand veteriuarians' eonference, addressed the confercncfe* at the refiuest 'of the society. - «»- • fierd testing .(fornierly voluntary on the. part of the dwners) had now been made compufsory tlirougk representations niade to' the Minister of Health : by organisation's such as' tlie Plunket' ' Society. - The -Stpek Act had been amended to make eomp.ulsory the testing- of hords supplying milk'for local consumption, ' said Mr. Barry. Froui 15,000 to 20,000 cows had been tested sinCe the work coinnienced- a month or two ago, but at -pxesent a kiteh liad been caused through the farmers' applieation for increased compensation for cows condenmed and also because of the- difficulty of replacing winter milkers. He hoped a satisfactory finaneiai arrangement would be made soon, ahd that the work wonld proceed. /fl don't think people realise how many cases of tubexculosis traced to bovine ■ inf ection are oceurring, ' ' said Dr. Helen Deem, medical adviser to the Plunket Society. The Plunket Society desires complete eradication of T.B. iii cows, stated anbiher delegate. Tkey advoeated a . Long-term policy even if it took 10years, -Mr. Barry said that the replacement problem would be difficult, but he tliought all cows concerned in local aiilk supplies, and nbt those providing hiilk for pasteurisatioA, would bc tested in two years. .■'In answer to a question, he said he estimated the incidence of T.B. to bts from 8 to 10 per cent. over all tlie Domiuion. Thc percentage would be kigher in some districts and lower in others. One delegate raised a laugh whcn she' said she tliought that as it was coinpulsory for children in remote districts to attend school she thought if should also be coinpulsory for the "remote houee eow" to attend testing. Dr, Filmer suggested that wliil-c con: cerned about the procoss of cradicating T.B. infection in milk, thc Plunket Society should put all its weiglit bchind a campaigu for pasteurisation.