MILK.INSPECTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 524, 3 June 1909, Page 5

MILK.INSPECTION.

DRAFT BILL APPROVED BY .COUNCIL. SOME.DEBATABLE CLAUSES. At tho meeting of tho City CoUncillast evening) Councillor Shirteliifo submitted a draft bill regarding tho control, and inspection of tho city-milk supply. As tho sossion was oommoncing almost immediately, and was likely to bo a short one, ho moved that tho Bill bo approved in goneral terms, and that tho council allow all amendments to go to tho 'committee, who would report on them later. Tho Bill includes tho recommendations for municipal control of tho milk supply recently approved by tho council.. . Councillor Ballinger expressed himself in total opposition to tho bill. Ho thought that tho .ratepayers should_ bo consulted as to whether they wore willing to provide the money- Tho Bill would never be passed. Councillor Dovino required an extension of time to considor tho Bill, which contained a clause enabling tho council to buy and soli milk and to sell cream and to manufacture and. soil butter. Tho next tiring would bo that tho council would buy oowb and keep a farm. _ . Councillor M'Laren denied a suggestion that tho Bill was tho outcomo of abstract Socialism. Councillor who at thiß stage prosided, gave tho opinion of tho oity solicitor that the scheme'could not bo put'in operation until it was submitted to tho ratepayors, Councillor Fletcher accused Councillor Dovino of giving good advice in committee and dissenting from it in tho council. Ho ac-knowledged-the valuable assistance received from Dr. Frongloy in connection with tho scheme, _ ' _ Councillor Trevor objected to tho echemo in so far as it went beyond inspection. Councillor Atkinson was generally in favour of the bill, but saw danger in the following clause: "Tho council may, out of its district fund, purchase milk for the purposo of . supplying tho samo to tho poor, and may supply tho 6ame free or at such reduced charges as it shall think, fit to such persons as it shall think fit." Assistance of this sort should bo given by the usual benevolent authorities.

Another clause which was subjected to somr criticism was ono to allow the council to subsidise visiting nursos out of its district fund.

Counoillor Shirteliffe strongly Urged that if' tho bill were not pushed forward now, there would bo danger of its not getting through Parliament. Thoro was no intention on the part of tho council to soil milk; it was puroly an inspection schemo. Councillor Luke thought tho mibjeqt one of tho most important that had been dealtwith by tho community for some timo. Tho clauses that had been most oriticisod woro purely safeguarding clauses. Tho draft bill was _ approved by 11 votes to 8. Tho dissentients wero 'Councillors Dovino, Trevor, and Ballinger. Tho Hon. J. Rigg in the Uppor House, and Mr. J, P. Luko, M.P., in tho Lower Houso, wore asked to tako charge of the bill,