BORACIC IN BACON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 August 1928, Page 9

BORACIC IN BACON.

WHY IS IT ALLOWED? MINISTER ANSWERS THE. QUESTION. X (By Telegraph—Special lo The Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 9. “To enable inefficient Arms to free themselves of the fly post, the people of New Zealand are compelled to eat bacon which may undermine their health,” said Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) in the House of Representatives to-day. He wanted to> know why the Minister of Health had suspended the regulation prohibiting the use of boraeic acid as a preservative for baoo-n. Mr Lee said that many large manufacturers partdeuilarlly one or two in Auckland, could produce a very good article now without the use of boracic. Mr T. M. Wilford: “And the flies get on it.’.’. Mr Lee: “Because the inefficient firms wont us some preservative to kiill a few flies. All the firms are being permitted to use a preservative winch is gravely affecting the health of the people, according to the Minister's published .statements. We are setting a. (premium on inefficiency and slip-shot methods. When a regulation of tins sort is suspended you get a feeling that two or three- firms are more powerful than they should be, .and that they have friends at court.” Tihe Hon. J. A. Young stated in reply that he was net in favour of legalising the use of boracic acid. The use of preservatives- bad been against the -law for some years, but it had been more honoured an the breach than in the observance. On becoming Minister of Health the speaker had done his -utmost to bring the law into operation. There Iliad been numerous prosecutions for using preservatives. As a -result certain firms complained that they could not manufacture bocou. He was unwilling to amend the law, but in order to allow the firms a dbanee to clean up the industry and bring it into line with what was the world-wide practice, he had decided to give them a few months of grace. Mr W. D. Lysnar : “What would you call! a reasonable time?” The Minister: “Perhaps twelve mouths from the time from their making application. I hope that we shall have the matter settled well within t welve months. ’’.