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the utmost of all the powers given by law to ensure
a good and proper milk supply, and they may be
relied upon to continue to do so, but the present
powers are not nearly sufficient or sufficiently
comprehensive.
I have alluded more than once in previous
reports to the fact that 50 per cent. of our milk
comes from far away country districts in Wiltshire,
Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, etc., and where
veterinary inspection of cows may or may not be
carried out efficiently or otherwise, since the Act
that empowers that to be done is permissive and
not compulsory, and unless, and until some
further legislation is adopted for the purpose of
ensuring a pure milk supply little else will be of any
use, and for this we must look to Parliament. It has
been reported that a Bill dealing with the milk
supply is shortly to be introduced by Mr. John
Burns, and if that is so, we may be satisified that
it will be a step forward, and ensure a considerable
gain to the consumer.
Vaccination.
There is an increasing disposition to take
advantage of the clause in the Vaccination Act of
1907. that allows of the "conscientious objector; "
and those who do so avail themselves of it invariably
show the most astounding ignorance of the
subject, and seldom have anything more to fall
back upon than rank prejudice.
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