DAIRY INSPECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6623, 12 September 1908, Page 10

DAIRY INSPECTION

THE XETVY BE&UIrATIONS. DISCUSSION* XX THE HOUSE. The new regulations under the Dairy Inspection Act were presented to Parliament yesterday by the Hon. R. AlcXab (Minister of ami Agriculture), who moved that th?y be referred to tho Stock Committee for consideration. Mr Massey (Leader of tho Opposition! referred to iho Reeling of anxiety which had prevailed among dairymen in regard to the regulations, and drew from 'the Premier a protest against wdd rumours which had been circulating. Sir Joseph Ward said the regulations were in the direction of helping owners of cattle by ensuring that all dairy produce was up to n high standard. The way in which tliis was done would indicate that the fullest consideration had been shown to tlio.se engaged in the industry. Hr Ross suggested that when the regulations wore before tho Committee, an opportunity should be given to leading people interested in the dairying mdivAiy cf giving evidence, so that the Committee could secure their assistance in formulating regulations which would be equitable and just. He thought that if tho Committro wore enlarged to include a number of members representing dairying districts it would ho an advantage. Air ricld said there was a very strong feeling that tho inspectors’ powers- were very much greater than they should bo. .

Tho Minister of Lands (H’on IL HeXab) -said ho was afraid somo of the :u::acty bad been iannod for political purposes. Ho had mot the representatives of the dairymen in conference in Dunedin and Auckland, and he had not found it suggested that there was any fooling of danger as to what the regulations contained. In many eases they wanted to go farther than the department required. While the conditions of manufacture were equal in New Zealand to those in any part of the world, the conditions under which the milk was produced were far froni satisfnctory. Tho Governmcnt hoped to bring up tho standard of milk production to something like that of the manufacture of butter.

Ho intended asking the committee to allow the department to call evidence. He 'arranged previously to havo the committee strengthened to include dairying representatives, but he did not think it should ho further enlarged. Members would see that there were only two or three cases in which tho opinion of the inspector came in, and a modified form of appeal should bo givon. THE REGULATIONS. The regulations referred to by the Hon. R. McNab are 32 in number, and provide that every dairyman, shall apply to tho inspector under the Act for registration at hi« dairy, accompanying it with a ground-plan of the cowshed, race, stockyard, and milk-stand, with dimensions shewn. Fees for registration or renewal of registration aro fixed at: — (a) Not more than two cows in milk. Is per annum. (b) More than two, but not more than ten cows in milk, os per annum. (c) More than ten cows in milk, 10s per annum. "Where cows are stalled overnight, thero must bo not less thau GOO cubic feet of air space for each animal. Floors of cowsheds must be of concrete or other impervious matter, the walls and floors must be thoroughly swex>t at least once a month, and whitewashing must bo done twice a year. Milk must not be stored, sold, or treated within 30ft of any place tho contents of which would be liable to contaminate it, while no cowshed.?, milking yards, or stockyards come under a similar regulation. Piggeries must not be within 50ft, Cowsheds must not be within 30ft of any dweUinghouse. In towns # of over 5000 population the minimum distance under this regulation is 100 ft. The water supply is to be protected from contamination, and a sufficient quantity of pure water must be available for tho animals, for washing the milkers* hands and cleansing tbo floor of the shed. Every person shall on every occasion Wore commencing to milk or* to handle milk in or about a dairy thoroughly wash his or her hands, and again wash them after milking each cow. No person shall draw milk, nor shall any dairyman, permit any milk to be drawn, from any cow until the udder and teats of such cow have been, thoroughly cleansed.

Milk must be strained and cooled in an approyed_ manner, and all utensils used in milking must be cleansed within two hours of use. Inspectors have power to conspicuously mark utensils they condemn, and no dairyman .can use them, while no dairyman shall luso, or suffer \» bo need, for tho purpose of removing milk from his dairy any can that does not bear a conspicuous metal label distinctly marked with Ms name. Milking-machines must be thoroughly cleansed immediately after use. If any person in or about a registered dairy is attacked by an infectious disease, or if tho stock apepars to be suffering from any disease or disorder, it must be notified, and precautions taken to ensure that the milk is not contaminated. Any dispute in regard to the regnlationa inay be referred by a dairyman to the Chief Inspector of Stock, Wellineton, who null appoint an officer to investigate it, and the decision of the officer so appointed shall be final. Any person committing a breach of any of the.«e regulations is liable to a penalty not exceeding fire pounds.