MILK INSPECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11670, 10 April 1916, Page 3

MILK INSPECTION.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE. A deputation of dairymen, which was introduced by Mr George Witty, M.P., waited on the Minister of Agriculture (the. Hon W. I>. S. Mao Donald) on Saturday with a request that there should be one inspection only instead of tho present, divided authority. Mr W. L. Wright said that the dairymen objected to the overlapping control. They did not know whether they were under the Health Department, the Agricultural Department or the (\uy Council. Some time ago lie -"lad objected to the City Council coming in to inspect the dairies. For many years under the Agricultural Department there had been uo disease traceable to tlie Clvrivstchurch dairies, and it seemed absurd that the City Council inspector or Public Health inspector should overhaul the Agricultural" inspector's work Mr A. W. Cook, president of tho Dairymen's Union, said that en r.no day the' Health inspector might order one thing to bo done, and the Oiiy Council inspector might order anottiur thing to be done. Mr C. L. Brown instanced the case of a small farmer who had been ordered to erect a galvanised iron structure and a. little later the city inspector lu.d ordered him to matchline and galvanise the building. The triple control was very annoying to the dairymen. Mr Luxton said that the City Council was insisting on a license, which could he withdrawn without, compensation, and the city supply could be municipalised. They objected. to the city inspectors, and considered that the .Agricultural Department was the proper authority, Mrs Martin said that a council inspector without looking at the cowshed had ordered her to rebuild the dairy. She had served milk for eighteen years and had never been off her cart for a day in fourteen years. The Minister, in reply, aaid that the Agricultural Department had nothing to do with the inspection of milV, being ooncerned with the condition of the herd and the sanitary condition of the yards and dairies and utensils. If everything was satisfactory a license was issued. Eight licenses out of 370 dairies in Wellington had been cancelled last year. He did not know what powers the City Council had, but he would look into the matter. He did not think that the council had any power to give instructions at the dairies, and as far as his Department was concerned had no control outside the city. Mr Brown said that the council, before it allowed a retailer to sell in the city, insisted upon the source of supply being inspected. The Minister said that the council bad tho right to inspect but not to order anything to be done in the matter oi herds or dairies, unless there was something in the City Milk Supply Act that he was unaware of. But the Department could not license any man to sell in Christ-church. Ho would look into the matter, but Dr R-eakes had informed him that the dairies were generally satisfactory.