DAIRY INSPECTION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15560, 8 April 1916, Page 3

DAIRY INSPECTION.

ALLEGED OVERLAPPING

- Tho Dairymen's Association, at a well-attended meeting some little time einc-c, made a strenuous protest against what they termed'' "dual control," and consequent overlapping of inspection. They have carried their protest to such a point that to-day the Minister of Agriculture has promised to rcceive a deputation from them.

A representative of "Tho Press" interviewed the Public Health Department, and asked Dr. Chesson the exact nature of the inspection complained of by the Dairymen's Association.

"The position," said Dr. Chesson, ''is that there are really three controlling bodies. There is the Agricultural Department, which relegates the work to the Stock Division or Department, which controls the dairy. The milk itself —the product of the dairy—comes under the Food and Drugs Sale Act, which is administered by tho Public Health Department. The sale of niilk in the city also comcs under the control of tho Borough or City Council', while the premises of the dairymen generally come under the provisions of the Nuisances Scction of the Public Health Act, for which the local authorities are responsible.

"The position then is that in respect to dairies proper, the inspection comcs under the charge of the Stock Department, which looks after the milk in its first stage. After it leaves the dairy or is stored., ready for despatch, it is under the charge o£ the Public) Health Department, which administers the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Thence it passes on to the City, and is controlled with regard to licensing of milk vendors' nremises.

"This 'triple' control—it will be seen that it is more than 'dual' —is not in realitv- as formidable as it seems. The City Council and the Public Health Department work together, and there is no overlapping whatever. The Stock Department and tho Public Health DeEartment also work in harmony—each avinga special and well-defined sphere —and it is absolutely unnecessary that there should bo any overlapping or contrary or divergent instructions."

From another person interested in the inspection of dairies, the reporter gleaned the opinion that something radical ,was needed in order to deal with the milk problem. There was 110 doubt, said this person, that the chief trouble in the milk question was the storing of milk. Too often there was no provision made for storing beyond the cans in which it was despatched. He also 6aid there were two sots of regulations—one under the Food and Drtiss Act. and another under the Public Health Act. The dairy regulations as set out by the Department dealt with the output and storing of milk in the dairy. The Food and Drugs Act save power to trace the milk supply to the byre, and it was due to the City Council to watch the sale of milk in the City.