13
6
I. INTRODUCTORY.
(a) Procedure adopted by the committee.
ON the 15th November, 1982, we held a preliminary meeting for the purpose of laying down the procedure to be followed in our inquiry, and in order to inform ourselves generally of the problems to be studied. We decided in the first instance to obtain written evidence from the government departments principally concerned with the subjects embraced within our terms of reference, namely, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, the Department of Health for Scotland, the Medical Research Council, and the Agricul- tural Research Council. We also prepared a preliminary list of institutions and individuals from whom we hoped to obtain informa- tion likely to assist us in the prosecution of our inquiry.
2. We were requested by the Minister of Health to report on the question of compulsory pasteurisation of milk in the larger towns. We have taken evidence from representatives of those who would be affected by it, and we make recommendations regarding it in our report.
3. We felt it wise to inquire into the control of animal diseases and the regulation of the distribution of milk in oversea countries. We are much indebted to the Department of Overseas Trade, to His Majesty's Senior Trade Commissioner in the Dominion of Canada, and to His Majesty's Commercial Diplomatic officers stationed in the United States of America, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, for the information that they have collected and sent to us.
(b) Evidence received.
4. We began the hearing of oral evidence on the 14th December, 1932, and in all held 32 meetings for that purpose. We heard evidence from the departments of state concerned both on the limited question of the compulsory pasteurisation of milk, and on the other matters included in our terms of reference; from representa- tives of institutions devoted to research in the subjects of our inquiry; from professional associations and public companies whose members were likely to be affected by any recommendations which we might make, or whose duties brought them into practical contact with our problems; from associations of local authorities; and, finally, from a number of individuals whose special experience in various fields was likely to be of value to us.
7
5. In addition to the evidence taken orally, we received a large number of written communications. We received from the govern- ment departments to which we have already referred memoranda on a large number of points on which we invited their assistance, and also many communications from institutions and individuals interested in the subject of our inquiry.
6. We desire to place on record our indebtedness to all who have assisted us, whether by giving oral evidence or by furnishing us with written information. In particular, we are under obligations to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry of Health, and to the Departments of Agriculture and Health for Scotland. Particulars regarding the evidence received, whether orally or in writing, are given in appendix 1 to our report.
In
7. In addition to memoranda specially prepared for us, we received considerable assistance from published information. particular, we may refer to a memorandum on bovine tuberculosis in man (Ministry of Health: reports on public health and medical subjects, no. 63); a survey of tuberculosis of bovine origin in Great Britain prepared by a committee of the People's League of Health; the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Milk (Ministry of Agriculture, economic series, no. 38); a report on the nutritive properties of milk in relation to pasteurisation, by the late Dr. J. D. Stirling and Dr. J. H. Blackwood; a report on the eradication of bovine tuberculosis by Mr. L. Jordan, being an account of an experi- ment in eradication undertaken through the Hannah Dairy Research Institute at the instance of the Medical Research Council, and to an article published in the quarterly bulletin of the League of Nations Health Organisation by Professor G. S. Wilson on the system of grading milk in the United States of America.
(c) Arrangement of report.
8. We divide our report into four parts. In the first, we consider the production and distribution of milk and their relation to cattle diseases and public health. In this part we first review the present system of milk production and supply, and then describe the principal cattle diseases and the diseases in man associated with them. In the same section we discuss the importance of milk as an element in human diet, and also the effect of pasteurisation on the constituents of milk. In the third section of this part of our report we describe the existing legislation in regard both to the diseases of animals and to the milk supply, and discuss to what extent it has proved effective in the prevention of disease and the improvement of the milk supply.
9. The second part of our report is devoted to a discussion of possible lines of administrative development, These include the further development of the veterinary inspection of dairy cattle
[9837]
B 4
14