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tuberculosis of bovine origin in Great Britain estimated that about
2,000 human deaths are caused annually by the bovine type of
tubercle bacillus, and about 4,000 fresh cases of human tuberculosis
of bovine infection develop each year.
It is essential therefore to institute more effective measures than
are at present at our disposal to prevent milk from being the cause of
a considerable percentage of human deaths from tuberculosis and of
a large amount of invalidity.
The Economic Advisory Council Committee appointed in 1932,
in their report published in 1934, suggested in their recommendations
that regulations should be made governing the grading of milk and
the granting to large urban authorities of the right to require
pasteurisation of milk other than that produced by herds free from
tuberculosis. In London a large proportion of the milk supply is
already pasteurised by the method as defined by the Milk (Special
Designations) Order. Until the entire supply for London is pasteurised
in the manner prescribed, the risk of milk causing disease
will always be present.
Milk Act, 1934.
The above Act became operative on August 15th, 1934.
This Act introduces new legislation with a view to increasing the
demand for milk, for improving the quality of the milk supply, and
for regulating the manner in which milk is described.
Section 10 introduces provisions in substitution of section 3 of
the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922, with regard to Milk
(Special Designation) Orders, made by the Ministry of Health, after
consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which
are briefly referred to hereunder, viz.:—
The granting by the Minister of Health, or local authorities, of
milk licences as respects any special designation, and prescribes the
conditions under which any particular milk licence is granted,
including the fees payable, the period for which such licences shall be
granted, and for the revocation or suspension of a milk licence, in the
event of a breach of any condition, subject to any person aggrieved
by the refusal, suspension, or revocation, of a milk licence by a local
authority, to appeal to the Minister of Health.
Amongst other provisions, the Act provides for temporarily
securing to producers of milk, by means of payments out of moneys
provided by Parliament, payments for the purpose of improving the
quality of the milk supply, and for increasing the demand for milk.
Under section 11, it is provided that contributions from the
Exchequer towards expenses of Milk Marketing Boards, are allowed
in connection with schemes for increasing the demand for milk, and a
scheme is referred to in another part of this report, whereby the