PURE FOODS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14015, 24 June 1913, Page 3

PURE FOODS.

new regulations working SATISFACTORILY. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 23. In tlie course of an interview the Hon, R. Heaton Rhodes, Minister for Public Health, stated that so far the outcome or the regulations under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act which came into operation on the Ist of April last, was giving him much satisfaction. One of the concessions made by the department had been .in the direction of permitting the use o! labels which were stock in trade on that date provided then any important statemeat or declaration now required by the regulations were shown by the affixed labels or by stamping thereon. This permission had been agreeably received by the manufacturers' and the agents concerned. At the same time, the most important feature in accordance with the spirit of the regulations had been therein- sufficiently safeguarded. The Minister staled that much advice was being sought by the manufacturers and others from several district health officers, and the chief health officer, regarding the labelling in the future; but nevertheless he was hot satisfied that the facilities offered by the department in this regard were being made much use of as the interests of the manufacturers, - the public, and the department itself warranted. Ho therefore took the opportunity of impressing upon the manufacturers and others, the ad-, visahility of making sure by direct com muuication with those officers that their future labels would be regarded by the department as in conformity in every detail. He added, frequently there were many with the requirements of f'e AH and the regulations. That was a very practical point, the Minister insisted. Its monetary side should appeal to those concerned. It might ho that in all good faith the manufacturers would draw up a label conforming as ho believed with all that the regulations require, whereas some small hut importauf detail having been omitted, iic woud subsequently lie informed bv the department that it could not he allowed, and that an entiivy now sot of labels must be purchased and used. The officers of the department, he added, were becoming day bv day more experienced in the needs of labelling many foodstuffs dealt with by the regulations, and after Uiis announcement the Minister could only a-siire manufacturers and others that if they failed to make use of the department in the way he had set forth they would have only themselves to blame for any inadvertent happening, and that his sympathy would not he with them when the time came to grumble as be felt sure would otherwise be the case. Continuing, the Minister said : “There is oue aspect of the pure food question which I may say candidly, is now greatly concerning us. It is the aim of the regulations that every housewife—and she, too. is primarily the most concerned—shall elearlv see by the label displayed on any package of food what exactly is the description and what is the quantity of the contents of the purchase she makes. I am satisfied that the regulations can very well secure this. On the other hand, it appeared that the dishonest trader can advertise his warrs in many specious ways,, either totally discounting or qualifying or denying the statements he is übw required to display on the labels of the food be may by advertising. As I have indicated, this is a serious aspect of the question. I am satisfied that slews must be taken to cope with this difficulty. After more full inquiry into all sides of the question ! hope shortly to announce exact'.v what I propose doing to remove (his flaw, one indeed which would militate against the efforts of the Government to secure the tulles! straight-tor-warducss in all matters concerning our food supply."