OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

T.B. MENACE (To the Editor) Sir, —Another rattling of “dry bones” in the form of meetings of responsible bodies, correspondence in the Press, etc., and the issue of action, against T.B. will be kept steadily in view. Suspicion naturally falls on Strawberry and Mary Ann as possible agents or even the culprits responsible for this terrible menace, but this possibility is quietly overlooked. I do not pretend to know all the facts pertaining to this problem, nor do I think it wise to make public all I do know, but a few points both destructive and constructive should not be out of place at the moment.

(1) We spend millions on research for the purpose of discovering the causes and incidence of disease, while the sacred cow continues the even tenor of her way. (2) Most doctors, hospital officials, child welfare inspectors and attendants, stockmen, butchers, the Press and pulpit and many others are aware of the conditions of our milking herds, but remain silent on this vital issue. (3) The Press and pulpit have had a golden opportunity of doing something for humanity in this instance by rousing the people and making them aware of the danger which confronts them, but the fact remains that anyone can pick up a herd of diseased cull cows and sell their products for human consumption, even for the innocent children.

(4) The so-called inspection of milking herds is nothing more than a snare and delusion in so far as mothers are likely to feed raw milk to weakly children in ordei; to build up their constitution.

(5) The law demanding inspection of meat was only passed because the disease was obvious to all those who handled it, while the more deadly agent —the milk —is allowed to go unchallenged and continue its fiendish work.

The foregoing destructive criticism should suffice for the present. Now for a constructive proposal. (1) Form a national pure milk organisation for the purpose of gathering data on the subject and submitting proposals to the Government. Such a body could be formed by delegates from interested organisations.

(2) Suggest the immediate inspection of all milking herds and passing the death sentence on diseased animals of either sex (if of a serious nature). (3) Inspection at regular intervals (periods decided by experts). (4) Compensation to be paid in full for all animals condemned. (5) Make it a penal offence to destroy a heifer calf until the herds have been •built up to the required standard. (6) All heifer calves to be controlled by or taken over by the Government, to be specially nurtured and fed and brought into production at two years in order to replace the culls at the earliest moment.

(7) Increase the age of bringing into profit to four years at the earliest in order to build up the constitution of the cow and concentrate more on health than quantity. (8) Every animal with a clean bill of health to be branded and make it a penal offence to harbour an unbranded animal over two years old. Treatment of pastures and stock, proper handling of the business and emergency rations for abnormal periods are further points to exercise the minds of an intelligent organisation. The foregoing is a skeleton outline of a proposed scheme and if we are honestly intent on rehabilitating our boys then something on similar lines must be proceeded with immediately unless we are satisfied to allow them to return and have anybody’s diseased culls foisted upon them.—Yours, etc., U. R. GENT. Masterton, November 16.’