MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2803, 22 June 1916, Page 6

MILK SUPPLY

POSITION CLEARED lIP

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER

A deputation from the Wellington City Council waited upon the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Public Health) yesterday aftornoou in regard to tho Minister's protest against the council including in its new by-laws certain provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act in relation to the inspection of milk. Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., introduced the deputation. Councillor .1. Godber, chairman of the Public Health Committee, said'that tho Minister's decision came as a thunderbolt In the council. They had understood that they wero empowered to make by-laws. The Minister: There is no question about that, but you mustn't include statutory nrovisions.-

Mr. Godber said they had „formulated the by-laws in good faith, and had hoped the difficulty would end. It was true they had embodied some clauses of the Rale of Food and Drugs Act, but they had restricted them entirely to the inspection of milk and cream, mvl thev were satisfied that they would be all right. The committee had gone into the question on Monday, and had decided that there were three alternative.') to arrive at a, solution of the difficulty. , If the council controlled the inspector and received the fines it would pav the inspector's salary. But if the Health Department controlled the inspector it should receive the fines. The other possibility was that there should be dual control between the Health Department and the City Council, but this was not generally found satisfactory.

Tho _ Mayor (3tr. J. P. Luke) snid he was distinctly against dual control, and he iireed the Minister to either take o'er the whole control of the question or else confer the powers possessed by his Department upon the council and let it carry out its functions of municipal government.

The Minister inrpiired if tho members of May 8 last in which lie mado thisoffer: of May 8 last in which hemadethis offer: 'L am prepared to apnoint an officer of the City Council an inspector under th-o Sale of Food and Drills Act. As he would be a State officer tho fines and fee? received would be paid into , the public account, but I am prepared to consider tire allotment of tho officer's salary as between the Department and your council."

Mr. "Wright: I think that clears up the ground.

The Minister: "I anvtrying to arm your officer with the powers of an inspector nuclei' .the' Sale of Food and Drugs Act. J. am eiving. you everything'l possibly can: wituin the' law." 1 Continuing, the Minister said the -only, difference between them was that the council was tryinsr to place in its by-law the nrovisions of a statute, and this lie could not allow. Ho never hoard of such a thin? in his life, and no lawyer worth his salt would advise that any such thing was possible. A r. Russell went on to quote a letier from the town clerk of February 11 last, winch said: "Tho-City Council is trilling to appoint inspectors under tho Wellington Milk Supply Act, 1910, if the Government will appoint them officers under the Health Department." That was exactly what he offered, and he could hardly comprehend the cause of the misunderstanding. He had indicated in the cleaiest possible fashion his desire to help by appointing their officer an. inspector, and also to discuss tin allotment of his salary between the council and the Crovemilient. Their action iu putting those provisions from the Act in their bylaws nieint that they were trying to take control of his Department. (Laughter.) After further- discussion, Mr. Godber -asked u the services of the iniisector 'would bo entirely at the disposal of'the council.

The Minister: shall havo nothing to do with him. He v/ill only bo an otiicer of our Department so l'ar as the milk supply of Wellington is concerned. Our only object is to strengthen your position, so that wo shall put tho full torce of the statute" at the back of the council. He would admit that as Minister he would require to approve of any prosecutions taken under the Sale of food and Drugs Act. He hoped they would have more than one inspector, as he did not think one would be enough. He repeated his offer and suggested that it was inerely a matter for. a business itiscussion as to the salary of the inspector. 11l view Of the fact that the by-laws would require to be confirmed on Thursday week, or else be begun de novo, the Minister promised to have the council's by-laws examined by the Crown Law omcer and his own experts, and the necessary changes pointed out, and to again meet the council on Monday afternoon next to go inot the business points of the position.