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Gohebiaethau.

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Gohebiaethau. DAIRYMEN AND THE L.C.C. ELECTION. To the Editor of CYMRO LLUNDAIN A'R CELT. SIR,-The introduction to the letter published in this week's issue of your paper signed Welsh Cheese" is as strong as the nom-de-plume the writer adopts. One must not be surprised at such, for, after all, it is but consistent with the shrieks of a party in great distress. "Welsh Cheese" says in his letter "that my statements are misleading, and that the establishment of Municipal Milk Depots is not unfair and unjust trading, when it is known that the dairymen are fighting against what is avowed by all sanitary experts to be the best cure known for infantile mortality." All I desire to say in reply to the first part of this extraordinary sentence is, that my statements are not misleading to any intelligent Welshman. Read my letter again, Welsh Cheese" you will then understand it, for you undoubtedly possess traces of common sense, and had you taken the trouble to inquire you would have found out that modified or humanized milk is sold by all respectable dairymen as to the latter part ofjthe sentence I main- tain that Municipal Milk Depots will never reduce infantile mortality. The repeated allegation that infantile mortality is due to the milk supply of the country is absolutely untrue, and is only asserted by persons who have preconceived opinions contrary to facts, and who jeopardise infant life by scaring timid mothers by false accusations. The cause of infant mortality is improper feeding, not the milk but the lack of milk in poor families, rather than its use, is probably responsible for many deaths. The statistics available from the Registrar- General's return prove this. Take the case of the borough of Finsbury, one of the very few boroughs in London that has a milk depot, which, of course, is heavily subsidised by the rates. Previous to its establishment the infant death rate was 139 per 1,000, or 16 from the lowest in London last year, with all the paraphernalia for saving life, it was 137 per 1,000, or 20 from the lowest in London. There was a general decrease in infantile mortality during 1906. Surely "Welsh Cheese" will find it difficult to answer this. The people who use the few milk depots which have been illegally established, and whose various losses fare continually surcharged the various councillors by the Local Government Board auditor (I merely mention this for the edification of "Welsh Cheese") are invariably careful parents, who would, depot or no depot, strive to rear their children. The really poor get none of the Municipal Milk for they cannot afford to pay even the Municipal charges. I do not wonder that the public are demanding an inquiry into the fearful sacrifice of infant life, and all honour to those who, though mistaken in their endeavours to prevent it, have ascribed milk as a cause. Let efforts be made to impress on the people the value of milk, not by means of heavily subsidised and unsuccessful depots. Give the children the milk obtainable; exclude beer and hard food from the dietary of the infants educate the people above improvident marriages, and the infantile mortality will then be found to have undoubtedly decreased. There are other clauses in the L C.C. (General Powers Bill) which, if passed, will press with equal severity on dairymen; but I shall not further trespass on your valuable space, except to say that should Welsh Cheese feel disposed to continue the con- troversy, I must ask him to keep to the subject, and not let his pen wander aimlessly over such a vast space of time from Norman Barons down to the ridiculous election cry of teasing Municipal Mono- polies to Company Promoters, which he must surely know to be false.—Yours, &c., DEVONSHIRE CREAM.

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