LABORATORY FOR TESTING OF MILK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19236, 25 November 1930, Page 14

LABORATORY FOR TESTING OF MILK.

CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS BY-LAW AFTER DEBATE. The initial steps in regard to the making of a new by-law relating to the sale of milk were taken by the City Council at its meeting last night. The By-Laws Committee reported that the Milk Committee was negotiating with the Technical' College authorities to make provision by which the college would test or analyse samples of milk submitted to it. These samples would be daily obtained by an inspector to be appointed by the council and would be taken in considerable numbers from various retailers of milk in the city. In each instance the analyst’s report on the sample would be sent to the vendor as soon as it was available. This system was not being inaugurated for the purpose of gaining evidence to institute proceedings against vendors whose samples of milk were not up to standard, but with a view to improving the milk supply generally and enabling vendors to keep their supply up to standard. In this connection any vendor would be permitted to submit samples-to the laboratory at the Technfcal College for testing at any time. The cost of the laboratory was to be met by increasing the fee charged for a vendor’s license from 5s to 25s per annum. The council had been given an assurance that the milk vendors approved of the scheme and that they were prepared to submit samples of milk without charging for them. However, it was necessary to have a by-law framed to authorise the inspector to purchase a sample in the event of the vendor refusing to hand one over without cost. The committee recommended the council to adopt the by-law as submitted. “No Hardship Imposed.” Councillor J. Parlane said that no hardship was imposed on dairymen, as they would welcome the changes and were in favour of an increase in license fees, even to £2. It was really the only safeguard that consumers had. If the vendor did not want to tender samples, the inspector could take them. Probably 90 per cent of the dairymen would desire the taking of samples, as showing the standard of milk obtained from their cows. He hoped the council would not quibble about the matter, as if the clause were rejected the matter would have to be held oyer for a year. The laboratory could be established early in the new year, and would be an object lesson to other New Zealand cities. The report was adopted and the formal resolution making the by-law was also passed. It will come up for confirmation in four weeks’ time.