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18
GOVERNMENT'S CHILDREN'S BILL.
This is an excellent measure and deals inter alia
with the prevention of juvenile smoking (an evil to which
I have referred in several previous Reports) ; the suppression
of " Baby Farming " ; and prevention of cruelty
and neglect to children and young persons come into
the scope of the Bill, and also over-laying, and exposing
children to the risk of burning. Careful provision is
also made to guard against children being brought up
in immoral surroundings. It provides that a penalty
may be inflicted if a person without medical authority
gives a child under the age of 5 (why stop at 5) intoxicating
liquor except in case of sickness. The Bill
applies to the United Kingdom and comes into operation
on April 1st.
COWSHEDS, DAIRIES & MILKSHOPS.
These have been inspected both casually and systematically
several times during the year and reports
upon their condition submitted to the Council. These
have been favourable for the most part. Any defects
found have been cheerfully remedied by the tenants or
owners. There is, however, still room for improvement,
in the grooming of the cows and a tendency to keep the
sheds too warm Without going to the ridiculous extremes
advocated by some enthusiasts it is not too much
to ask that clean overalls and caps should be worn by
the milkers, whose hands and arms should be thoroughly
scrubbed with soap and hot water before milking.
There has been no reason for suspecting any milk supply
to have originated or conveyed infection in any case of
Infectious Sickness notified. The bulk of the milk
supply comes from outside, there being only 32 milch
cows kept in the district.
I beg to advise as a matter of precaution that the
Council make arrangements to have these cows inspected
by a Veterinary Surgeon at least twice a year and tested
for tuberculosis ; also that the following simple rules for
milkers be printed on cards and supplied to the tenants
of the cowsheds.
RULES TO MILKERS.
"Strict cleanliness is most essential in everything connected
with the production of milk."
Cowsheds.—Clean walls, ceilings, floors, windows.
Animals.—Clean haunches, udders and teats.
Cowman.—Clean hands, overalls and cap when milking.