INSPECTORS STIRRING UP GROCERS

Chronicle (Levin), 30 October 1947, Page 7

INSPECTORS STIRRING UP GROCERS

Press Association)

( Per

AUCKLAND", Oct. 29. Acting uiHler autliority delegated from tho Department of Health, loeal body sanitary inspectors have been visiting grocers shops throughaut thiAuckland provinee recently and inapccting washing and lavatory t'acili ties, in some cases in country diatrieta where grocers have not been able to install hot water services with handbasins as speciiied under the Health Regulations. They have been warned to provide the necessary services. The inspections are being made urnlei the provisions of the Food and Drugs Regulations, '1946, which state that ablution basins with adequate supplies of hot' and cold water, soap and towels or other drying appliances, nuist be available in all places where food oi drugs are sold, manufactured, prepared, stored or packed. The penalty for breaches of the regulations carries a maxinium fine of £50. Coinmenting 011 the inspectors' insistence that hand basins with hot water be installed, Mr. R. M. Barker, secretary of the New Zealand ALaster Grocers' Association, said apparently a check-up was being carried on throughout New Zealand and he point ed out that the regulations applied equally to confectioners, dairies, fruiterers and all wholesale distributing houses. The places where these facilities were not i.t present installed would run into inany thousands over the whole of the country. Although grocers did not wish to evade tlieir responsibilities under the regulations, receni newspaper reports stated that thousands of completed State and private houses could not be occupied because of the shortages in sanitary fittings. The production of sinks and basins had even beeu discontinued at oue large factory owing to fuel dithculties. The provision of hot water svstenis, either eiectric or gas, would also be ditticult and if not impossible in some country areas. "The Master Grocers' Association has written to the Mmister of Health. XLiss Howard, about the matter and has stressed the fact that hand basins are in short supply," he added. The association had asked for the department 's policy in the matter and had requested the Minister to advise whether it \vas her iutdntion tliat grocers receive precedcnce over unoecuiiied State houses in the supply of fittings.