SHOP SANITARY FITTINGS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 6

SHOP SANITARY FITTINGS

HEALTH DEPARTMENT INSPECTION SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 29. Acting under authority delegated from the Department of Health, local body Sanitary inspectors have been visiting grocers’ shops throughout the Auckland province and inspecting washing and lavatory facilities. In .some cases in country districts where groceri have not been able to install hot water services with hand basins as specified under the health regulations they have been warned to provide the necessary services. J The inspections are being made under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Regulations, 1946, which state that ablution basins with adequate supplies of hot ana cold water, soap, and towels or other drying appliances must be available in all places where food or drugs are sold, manufactured, prepared, stored, or packed. Breaches of the regulations carry a maximum fine of Commenting on the inspectors’ insistence that hand basins w?tl hot water be installed. Mr R. M. Bariaffil' secretary of the New Zealand Master Grocers Association, said that apparently a check-up was being made throughout New Zealand. The regulations applied equally to corifeetionen, dairies, fruiterers, and all wholesale distributing houses. The places where these facilities were not at present installed would run into many thousands over the whole of the country. Houses Waiting for Fittings Although the grocers did not wish to evade their responsibilities under the regulations, recent newspaper reports stated that thousands of completed State and private houses could not be occupied because of shortages in sanitary fittings said Mr Barker. The production of sinks and basins had even been discontinued at one large factory because of fuel difficulties. The provision of hot water systems either electric or gas would also be difficult, if not impossible, in some country areas. “The Master Grocers’ Association has written to the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) about the matter and has stressed the fact that hand basins are in short supply,” he added. “The association has asked for the depart* ment’s policy in the matter ana has asked the Minister whether it is her intention that grocers receive precedence over unoccupied State houses in the supply of fittings.”