MILK—HEALTH AND TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 61, 13 March 1934, Page 6

MILK—HEALTH AND TRADE

(To the Editor.) \ . Sir,—To my mind.one of the most interesting features in the "Evening Post" of Friday last was a letter written from Christchurch and sighed "Help Ourselves.' To Wellington district people who have a sense of local pride it may be of interest to them to'know that an organisation in Lo'tyer Hutt were the pioneers in ™s "™ilk for school children scheme." ihe first experiment was carried out at Irentham- School in June, 1932, but owin" to the difficulty of obtaining milk from tuberculin free herds this experiment only covered a period of one term. At the end of that short period Dr.-Montgomery Spencer reported a decided 'improvement in those children receiving the ration of milk daily—in height, weight, and vitality/ .'.. . . . •■,;■•; :.• .-• •. > .y • Last 'September the . promoters were in a position to offer to the children of the Hutt Central School, at a cost of 3d per week, one-half pint of milk per day, sealed in a sterilized bottle and partaken with the aid of a sanitary. straw. This service, has ,*: been' extended to eight schools, but" owing to the extra labour and cartage they have been compelled to increase the price to 4d per week delivered at the new schools; there are now over 1400 children having this daily ration of milk. . • '"Helri Ourselves" writes that they work in conjunction with the school authorities; without their aid and interest t3ie success of the scheme is impossible. I am sure that the scheme would go ahead far quicker if it received recognition from the Department of Health. If every man, woman, and child in New Zealand drank half a pint of milk daily over and above their present quantity, it would mean that the total consumption would be increased' by 3<?,000,000 gallons per year, or the equivalent of approximately 16,000,0001b o£ butter. I do think that if we move nationally and use the brains that are being used to find outside markets in putting our own house in order first we will1 as a nation benefit, and benefit considerably, in health for the drinker and wealth for the producer. Remember there is no milk in the world equal to the milk of-New Zealand cows, pasture-fed all the" year round; —I am, etc., . ' ';. LOWER HUTT. * (To the Editor.) Sir, —Undoubtedly the idea expressed by "Help Ourselves," of Christchurch, in your edition of Friday evening was indisputable. • I do not contest that, but is there not also another point of view worthy of our attention. Is it important to advocate an increased consumption of milk merely for the sake of trade? Is it just an incident that milk is one of our most valuable foodstuffs?In this ideal country where we should bo building a race second to none in the world we are faced with the appalling fact that malnutrition is common and dietary diseases are by no means rare. Accurate experimental and dietary work convinces us that much of this trouble could be overcome if more milk were given. The mineral salts so vital in perfect pssifieation, the invaluable vitamin, present in the cream, its proteins, which are in a form which can be so easily assimilated— all factors combine -to make this food one which should be available to everyone in the country. I do not wish to. discuss here the economics of the matter, but if the inadequate consumption is a question of cost how can we talk of over-production and quotas and at the same time offer the defence that the price puts the commodity; out of the reach of many. I will close with a challenge to all parents, teachers, and health authorities: Have we done all to pass on the heritage and promise of health which our children have a right to expect?—l am, etc., HOME SCIENCE.