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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
If the
ed to adopt with regard to this particular perts. I use the word discredited in its form of business. Neither can I conceive most complimentary sense, because these any reason which would apply to the Bill two gentlemen urged their opinions on the in Hongkong that would not apply at English Government, who refused to be Hope. I cannot conceive how it is possible convinced by them, Why should this to say that if the English Government Government act upon evidence of that could be justified in refusing a label to be kind? Moreover, if they took the trouble attached to condensed skimmed milk, how to read Mr. Franklin's minute they would it is that this Government is justified in not see that it practically amounts to a general taking a similar course, which I suggest condemnation of all condensed milk as should now be taken by deleting the words unsuitable for children. Taken as a whole "Should not be given to children under one the minute amounts to quotations from year of age." I repeat with some confidence persons-I won't call them faddists--but the proposition that I laid before the Com- persons who have particular views, which mittee, that it lies upon those who assert are not those of the majority and which that it is a danger to the life or health of summarily condemnu all condensed milk as children in feeding them upon condeused being unsuitable for children. skimmed milk to show there is greater Council is to be guided by Mr. Franklin. danger than there would be if the children you would label all condensed railk as are fed, as some of the witnesses whose unsuitable, and say it should not be given names appeared in the sessional paper to children under one year of age. But, seemed to think, upon rice water, and other Sir, I would draw the attention of members things. Some of the witnesses had said to this, that all the evidence quoted by Mr. that children were fed upon rice-water pap | Franklin was given in 1896, 1899, 1900 and other worse stuff. The alternative and 1908, before various Commissions, and must be assumed, If words are placed that, notwithstanding all that, no legislative upon these tins of milk, which are within action in England followed. What is the the reach of the poor, and if by reason of logical conclusion? Surely it is that Mr. those words they are prevented from buying Franklin's witnesses, as I may call them, them, the effect must be, not to make the the gentlemen whose opinions he states, do poor buy the more expensive milk, but to not accurately represent the views of the drive them to worse things such as rice- majority of opinion in England. We know water pap. It would be farcical for this that a large section of the community Council to assume that because the poorer regard as anathema condensed milk and classes are warned against this milk that condensed whole milk, and notwithstanding they will not use it, but would use the that fact the majority must be of the con- condensed whole milk. It is illogical, be- trary view, because, as I submit, it is incon- cause if, in the first instance, they are richceivable that H.M. Government would have enough they will buy the dearer article. for fifteen years declined to legislate if it If, on the other hand, they cannot get the were true that condensed skimmed milk as cheaper, they will go to something cheaper a food is a danger to the life and health of still. Now, in dealing with this matter the children. You will find in that minute Colonial Secretary very properly said that that Mr. Franklin states that it means the real question was one for experts, and "starvation and death." If you make re- he read to the Council a minute by Mr. ference to the letter in the Hongkong Daily Franklin, who may be regarded as the Press, written by a firm in this Colony in- Government's expert on the subject. If terested in the sale of a rival product, you your Excellency and gentlemen of the will find that the matter was brought up in Council will look at that minute you will the House of Commons and the President find that it simply consists of two quota of the Local Government Board was ques- tions from two writers upon the subject, tioned in 1909 on the subject as to what the two writers who for the last ten or fifteen Government proposed to do. The quota- years have been urging His Majesty's tion is here in the Dairy World. The Pre- Government in England to pass legislation sident replied that he was aware that con- on the subject. I am almost entitled to deused skimmed milk was deleterious to say that Mr. Franklin's minute is based infants, and it might he found on considera- apon the evidence of two discredited ex- tion that a case had been made out for re-
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
quiring a special label calling attention to this Bill as it stands. If it is really neces- the fact In July, 1908, when Mr. Master-sary for the protection of the lives of children, man, the President of the Local Govern- that, of course, must weigh; but before you ment Board, was pressed upon the subject, inflict such an injury upon the trade surely he expressed his own opinion that the milk you will require to be satisfied that what was deleterious, and perhaps a case might you are asked to do is in accordance with be made out after enquiries. Well, we are the opinions of the majority of those whose now in the year 1911, and I submit that it opinions are entitled to respect, and that is only reasonable to assume that had it you do what you are asked to do notwith- been possible to make out a case, such as standing the fact that in Great Britain the had been presented to Mr. Masterman, the authorities have declined so to act. I am legislation which was asked for would have entitled to use the word declined, because been introduced into the House of Com- they have chosen not to take any action. mons and become law long before now. Our case does not rest upon the destruction The only inference possible is that on con- of the case for the other side. I wish to sideration it had been found that a case had read to you extracts of opinions of experts, mot been made out for requiring a special from which it will appear that this article label. Other evidence brought forward in is a valuable food for infauts as well as support of the measure is contained in a adults. If you will look at Sessional Paper letter which appeared in the Daily Press of 6 you will find a minute by Dr. Clark in May 25th. The writer of that letter stated which he negatively supports the contention that South Africa had passed similar I put before you. He says that "this milk legislation to that which is was proposed to is most unsuitable for infants unless supple- pass here. No such legislation had been mented by cream, which would be outside passed in South Africa. There is a duty, the means of people who buy the stuff." and a high duty, upon condensed milk and
Of course, the language in which that condensed skimmed milk, and the duty on gentleman speaks of the milk can hardly be the latter is higher. The sole reason for called a judicial weighing of the value of its introduction is that there is a large dairy this article. industry in South Africa, and it was intro- duced as a protection of the industry and not because it was a danger to the community by feeding children on condensed skimmed milk. There is no legislation of this kind in South Africa. Another precedent has been quoted by the writer of that letter, who are the agents of the Anglo-Swiss Company. That precedent is Jamaica. It is true that in Jamaica in 1908 legislation took place, and words almost identical to those objected to in the Bill before the House had been inserted. That precedent means nothing more than that, while the British Government was taking time to consider whether a case had been made out to provide for legislation for such a label, the Jamaican Government hastily adopted the proposal. The Jamaican Government could have had no better medical advice than was available for Mr. Mastermau. Jamaica is indeed the only one of the widespread British communities which has legislated in the direction suggested. Surely this is a strong argument against the action which the Committee is asked to take? I sulinit, therefore, that you will do a serious injury to an important trade if you pass
(Laughter.) However, it amounts to this, that it is suitable if sapple- mented by cream. In other words, it is not accurate to say that condensed skimmed milk should not be given to children under one year of age under any circumstances, whether supplemented with cream or any- thing else. Take the evidence of other experts, Drs. Muller, Justi and Hoch, a respected firm of German doctors here. They state in the sessional paper that the "milk on which they report is not a perfect substitute for whole milk, but as the poorer class of people are bound to feed their chil- dren on a very doubtful class of goods, such as rice water and even worse stuff, because a good and cheap whole milk is not obtain- able for them, we are of the opinion that under the circumstances the Baby Brand milk is very fit for use as a substitute for cow's milk." Surely you must give some attention to such an expression of opinion. Here is a firm of doctors well-known in the community pledging their professional re- putation to the fact that where you cannot get better, where you are not rich enough to buy condensed whole milk, that conden sed skimmed milk is a good substitute for cow's milk. Then we have the opinion of
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