MILK FOR THE SCHOOLS
[To the Editor of TI1E SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Dr. Wilson's reply to my letter might possibly lead it to be supposed that I am opposed to all pasteurization of milk. On the contrary I am strongly in favour of it where milk is produced carelessly or is inefficiently handled by the distributor. Further, from my experience of the way in which it is often treated after delivery to the customer, I think it would be no bad thing if it could have a further dose of the process immediately before consumption, • whether it had already been pasteurized or not.
To deal with Dr. Wilson's arguments : (1) From his own showing it would appear that scientific experts disagree with one another and even with the previous results of their own experiments. This does not inspire confidence in their conclusions one way or the other.
(2) I am prepared to wager that no amount of theory will ever persuade the practical farmer that pasteurized milk would rear calves as well as the raw article. He would argue, not unnaturally, that if raw milk from a healthy cow was inferior, his cows should have had included in their original design a cheap pasteurization plant.
(3) Here again theory does not square with practice. I have a Guernsey herd, have won third prize in a County Clean Milk Competition and every care is taken to produce milk of the highest quality and cleanliness. Any attempt to obtain a retail price in advance of that asked by my competitors results in lost business except among the small proportion of those who can afford to pay for the best possible article, or who arc able to appreciate that differences in quality and cleanliness ought to affect the price.
If pasteurization was compulsory the temptation to cut the extra expense of really careful production would be difficult to resist. If a pre-pasteurization standard of cleanli- ness is to be insisted upon and a premium is to be paid on milk from healthy herds, from what source is the money to come to pay for these undoubted advantages ?
Finally I am entirely in favour of the baial facts being widely known, provided the facts from the point of view of the practical farmer arc included. Given the certainty of receiving a price which will pay him I am confident that there is an increasing number of farmers who would make every effort to produce what the public needs. It should, however, never be forgotten that price undoubtedly influences consumption. Increased consumption is of great importance for the health of the nation, it is of vital importance also for the farming industry ; both those who can influence consump- tion and those responsible for production desire the same thing. Any steps which can be taken to help each party to appreciate the point of view of the Other would, I feel, help towards the solution of a difficult problem.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Blacklands, Crowhurst, Sussex. Htmu B. CARRINGTON.
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