Sampling Of Milk For Quality Will Continue

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 12

Sampling Of Milk For Quality Will Continue

The Health Department will continue to take samples of bottled milk to ensure that it is up to the standard required for public consumption, according to the Medical Officer of Health in Christchurch (Dr L. F. Jepson).

He gave this assurance yesterday when asked what safeguards the public would have when the Milk Act, 1967, comes into force on September 1, and the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board is dissolved. Sampling of milk, usually from vendors’ trucks, just as it would reach the public, would continue. Dr Jepson said. Inspectors would take samples for testing the fat content, the solids-not-fat and the bacterial content of the milk. The new Act does not relieve any person from complying with the Dairy Industry Act, 1952, the Health Act, 1956, and the Food and Drugs Act, 1947. The change most affecting milk vendors is the dissolution of milk boards and the passing of the responsibilities for licensing and control of zoning schemes to the New Zealand Milk Board. Vendors who hold licences from milk authorities at the start of the application of the Act will be deemed to be approved on September 1. They will automatically receive approvals from the board. The New Zealand Milk Board does not plan making any major changes in delivery hours. It states that as far as possible, present delivery hours will be main tained. Defining Zones The board states that the specified gallonage system of zoning will gradually disappear. The Act gives the board the power to continue specified gallonages for a maxi mum of three years. Initially, on September 1, the board will continue to maintain specified gallonages in nearly all cases where they exist now, but these will be gradually phased out as some degree of re-zoning can take place. This does not mean that the vendors in a developing area will eventually gain the benefit of all growth of trade in the area. It is the intention of the board in due course to define most zones, street by street. Areas where there is room for

considerable expansion through new housing will be kept out of zones and placed on temporary approvals until developed. The board states that some part of this growth will be used to assist vendors who may unfortunately be in older and declining areas. Proceeds from other growth will be needed to provide funds to pay to local authorities for equity in milk rounds taken over from milk authorities. [ Price and margin fixation ’ powers have been changed; by the legislation. Whereas in the past all national prices I and margins, whether pro- j ducer prices, consumer prices or allowances for services, j were fixed by Order in Council, in future national allowances relating to treatment J and distribution will be fixed ■ by the Milk Prices Authority ' provided for in the Act and ; notified in the Gazette. I

Other national prices and allowances will be fixed by the Minister of Agriculture and notified in the Gazette. Special variations will be fixed by the board as before. The changed responsibilities under the new Act will mean some changes in the New Zealand Milk Board's administration. In the main, this involves strengthening of staff in district offices to handle the added responsibilities. The board has delegated its i powers of selection, and apI proval of new vendors to dis- | trict committees consisting of j the nearest available board members and senior staff who j will consult with and work l in co-operation with local I treatment stations and vendor associations. I The board has also appointed agents in many cities Sand smaller centres where it I does not have district offices.