MILK AND CONFECTIONERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 7

MILK AND CONFECTIONERY.

"LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT."- " {BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN' ; CORRESPONDENT.] ~■... Wellington, Friday. ■The liberty of the subject, more 'particu- -. . larly of the seller, of. milk, was called into question by a recommend made by v the Abattoirs, Milk Supply, and Public Health Committee'of the City Council last ! -evening, that the action of the milk and • .dairy inspector in refusing to grant a milk :;,-' shop license to a certain shopkeeper be approved.' Mr. Shirt cliff who moved the ' .adoption of the recommendation, said that the license was refused at the instance of the district health officer (Dr. Frengley), because the shopkeeper sold confectionery !ns well as milk. The refusal might seem .a little arbitrary, but the Health Depart- ' .- merit, stated that it was essential that »;.■".■ discrimination should be used as to the goods that were , sold along, with milk. They had laid down a classification under which milk licenses might be given to dairies, pure and simple, and also to milk ' s dealers who were agreeable to sell only certain specified articles in addition to milk. It was suggested that shops which ■ sold other articles than these should be allowed to sell only bottled milk. •' : The Mayor said that' if. seemed to him an extraordinary regulation, and an unwarranted interference with the liberty of the subject to say that a. man should not i be allowed to sell milk from cans because ; ,he also sold a lew lollies over the coun- ":; - tar. . ' . '•'ln the case in • question,", said Dr. Frengley, on being questioned, "the lady in charge of the shop informed me that '■':-"- she sells about half a gallon a day across the counter. In view of this trifling retail .::'"■; business, and the unwillingness of the applicant to conform to what other vendors * were quite willing to do, I reported to the Council 'granting of license is not. 5 approved.' As to interfering with the liberty of the subject, very many children under one year arc undoubtedly killed by • bad. milk. There .must be regulations, and there must be interference with the Juan who wishes to do just as he likes in supplying milk. The one thousand and forty-three by-laws of the City Council '. arc a denial of the existence of 'liberty oi the subject.' "