THE DAIRY REGULATIONS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 248, 19 October 1908, Page 4

THE DAIRY REGULATIONS.

Recently we published the new regulations proposed for the management of dairies, which were submitted for i approval of Parliament. These regulations, which were far more stringent than those they were designed to replace, were regarded with extreme disfavour by farmers and their friends both in and out of the House. The object aimed at was that milk sold ■■■■' for human consumption should be produced under clean conditions, Why those engaged in the industry should object to this is difficult to .understand, but certain it is that from one end of the country to the other there arose a perfect howl of dissatisfaction at the attempt of the Department to impose rules ensuing cleanliness. '. These rules may have been' in some respects too severe, but in order to meet all possible objections they were referred to a Committee of the House for revision. They were returned by the Committee shortly before the House rose, ana were hastily adopted. They are _ published in, another portion of this issue, and it will be seen upon perusal that they have been "shorn of every feature which would press at all severely, upon milk purveyors ,\ and in fact are far less drastic than the previous regulations. Instead of making cleanliness the beginning and the end pf dairying operations, this important requisite is left' entirely to the sweet will of the dairyman. He may be clean or the reverse, just as his inclinations^or hjs instincts prompt him. There is little or no compulsion in the matterj and the dirty dairyman may flourish alongside of the clean one without let or hindrance. The Committee have even struck out the clause providing that a milker shall wash his hands before commencing operations! Milk carts may be used for other purposes, rusted or improperly soldered cans may be used for carrying milk,' and dairymen are not required to have their names on their carts or cans. Manure may be allowed to remain within 30 feet of a milking shed, fowlhouses, waterclosets, etc., may also be within that area, milkers are not required to keep the floor of the milking shed clean, and the requirement that the work of dairying shall be conducted to the satisfaction of the Inspector has been deleted. The regulations as they now stand are a travesty upon all rules designed to ensure' decency^ and will in no wise tend to insure the production and saje of clean and wholesome milk. The consumer is m this matter left largely" to > the mercies of the purveyor, who' may, or may not be clean,, in his methods. Let us hope that in this district at least, the unclean dairyman will continue to be conspicuous by his absence.