586 Transaclioii.s. — 3Ii>iceUaneoiis. 



The question as to whether it ought not to be included is now- 

 being discussed, and there is no question but that sooner or 

 later the necessity will be recognized of preventing the sale 

 of milk from tuberculous animals. The difficulties which at 

 present lie in the way of such legislation are partly common 

 to all attempts to legislate for the good of the conuuunity by 

 controlling any special branch of trade. It is difficult to 

 prevent injury to individual rights, and one serious part of the 

 question is, whether compensation ought not to be allowed to 

 the owners of cows whicli would thus be preveiited from being 

 a means of profit. 



What the condition of the law in New Zealand may be 

 with regard to the milk- supply it is difficult for one little 

 acquainted with the statute-book to determine. Legal provi- 

 sions on the subject are contained in clauses scattered through 

 various Acts. 



Adulteration of milk is provided against along with that of 

 other foods. The Public Health Act contains a clause em- 

 powering the Governor in Council to provide for the registra- 

 tion of purveyors of milk, &c., for the appointment of 

 inspectors, for the securing of efficient sanitation of dairies 

 and milk-shops, and for the prevention of the sale of milk in 

 cases where it would endanger the public health. Local 

 Boards also may be authorized to make regulations for effect- 

 ing these purposes. Regulations were gazetted to this effect 

 in 1882. Mo practical result has, however, so far as I can 

 learn, been the outcome of this part of the Public Health Act. 

 There does not appear to be any registration of dairies ; and 

 only on special occasions, and then also only in limited dis- 

 tricts, has any systematic inspection of dairies and dairy- 

 cattle been made. 



During the last session of Parliament some advance has 

 been made by including tuberculosis among the diseases 

 which when detected by the Lispector of Cattle necessitate 

 the destruction of the animals affected. Tuberculosis, accord- 

 ing to the report of the Live-stock Committee, is prevalent to 

 a considerable extent in New Zealand, but accurate informa- 

 tion as to the degree of its prevalence is still wanting. It is 

 pleasing to find that the Live-stock Committee recognizes 

 how serious a matter it is that tuberculosis should be pre- 

 valent in any country', and that the advice of the Committee 

 has been acted on to circulate among stock-ow'ners and others 

 the admirable report on the subject drawn up in Britain by 

 the Departmental Committee of the Privy Council. 



In New Zealand we often congratulate ourselves that 

 we are keeping up with the progress of the rest of the 

 world. In sanitary matters generally we do not perhajis show 

 quite as much activity as we ought, and in the matter of 



