MAKE SHARP ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 10

MAKE SHARP ATTACK

DISCONTINUANCE OF MILK

INSPECTION

DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE

QUESTIONED,

Allegations that the City Council and its Milk Department propose to discontinue in part the present system of inspection of suburban dairy farms in order that nearby farmers might then allow their supply to drift and so advertise, by comparison, the qualities of the municipal supply, were made at a general meeting of the Suburban Farmers' Association yesterday afternoon. A deputation is to wait upon the Mayor to demand that the present inspection shall continue. The chairman (Mr. J. Purchase) said that under the Act passed in 1919 all the moneys collected, such as the annual license fees, should be paid by the council into a separate account to be known as the Milk Account. Tlmt account originated for one purpose, to cover the cost of inspection and administration. As far as the nearby farmer was concerned, if there was no inspection there could be no administration. He had official information that the suburban farmers' milk was going to be allowed to drift and that the services of the inspector (Mr. Rawlinson) would in part be diverted to other duties. Were they justified in allowing the council's proposal to take root and grow at their expensed The council's motive was that if the nearby farmers' milk deteriorated, that would act as ax. advertisement for the Milk Department's supply, or in other words, to put the farmer's construction upon it, give the council the opportunity, when Parliament again met, to go along with <a fresh grievance and seek further tightening legislation with a view to completing their monopoly. "I don't for a moment suggest, however, that the farmer would adulterate his milk if the inspection were not carried out," continued Mr. Purchase. "But some people are careless, and it is on the strength of this carelessness that the danger is likely to occur. We welcome an inspection, because wo know that the quality of our milk is excellent. 'My contention is that we should not pay this £2 2s licenso fee until we get an assurance that the inspection will not be discontinued. ". . . . The services of the inspector are valuable both to the fainer and to the community; we are determined that the inspection shall not cease. If it does we have ouselves to blame for not taking action. As far as the inspector himself is concerned we have always found him very impartial and fair." Mr. P. Kettlewell said he did not think the meeting was right in assuming that an inspection would not be carried on as in the past. No official information to the contrary had yet been received. The proper conrse would be to pay the fee and then enter a protest if the inspection ceased, and demand the money back. Mr. S. G. Luxton then moved that a deputation from the association wait on the Mayor in connection with the matter. The motion was seconded. Mr. E. Bevis said that he would rather pay his fee, and if the inspection ceased then protest to the council. Mr. Kettlewell pointed out that, although the City Council paid the inspector his' salary, the Health Department was responsible for the taking of samples and the inspection of the milk. Mr. Luxton: "The City Council takes our £2 2s and the Health Department takes the responsibility." (Laughter.) The Chairman: "As far as the inspector's salary is concerned, the Act still stands that where any public body appoints an inspector under the Pood and Drugs Act, by Act of Parliament, that body is responsible foT his salary. Can't you see the councils ulterior motive? They want to let our milk drift." Mr. Kettlewell: "For the life of me, Mr. Chairman, I can't sec how you are going to serve a useful purpose by taking up the attitude you have done; I am sorry to oppose you. I am going to ask the meeting to adopt the constitutional method, and that is for us to pay the fee and lodge a complaint afterwards should the inspection cease. I am going to ask the meeting to vote against the motion." After further discussion the motion was put to the meeting and was carried by about a 60 per cent, majority. The chairman and Messrs. Kettlewell and Bevis were then appointed members of the deputation, which will wait on the Mayor.