MILK CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 7

MILK CONTROL

COUNCIL INSPECTOR APPOINTED. At last evening'B meeting of the City Council the following report from the Public Health poiuniitteo with' reference to tho milk control question was adopted, to the accompaniment of many sighs of satisfaction:— "(1) That they have had several conferences with tho Minister of Public Health on tho question of the Milk Control Bylaw No. 26, and tho appointment of milk inspectors for the city of Wellington. "With reference to the by-laws, _ the Minister cannot approve of the provision of the Sale of Food and Drugs. Act being incorporated in the by-laws. The committeo have, therefore Co recommend that the by-law be not proceeded with in its present form, but those provisions agreed to by the Minister, be included in tho draft by-law (Duiries Amendment)' coming up for adoption at this meeting. The Government have agreed: (1) To appoint the council's milk inspector (Mr. G. A. Lawrence) an officer .under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act; (.2) To pay onethird of his salary; (3) To keep the fines resulting from prosecutions, the council keeping'the fees received from licenses, etc.; (4) An account to bo kept of the revenue received by the State and city from fines and fees respectively, and after, a year's trial tho financial position can be looked into and, if necessary reviewed."

In referring to tho, work, Councillor Godber (chairman of committee), gave full credit to the Minister for his keen interest in the matter, and tho manner in which he had helped the committee to bring about the desired result. Thero had been a misunderstanding, but as soon as. that was' explained awny, tho Minister showed, in tho sincerest manner possible his desire to. help them. He had ascertained 'from his Department that the fines received from tho Court had only. amounted to i£l7 last year, and that, with careful supervision, these could lie expected to diminish. The council was to got tho lines, and tho Government .was to pay a third of the inspector's salary, which was to lie £160 a year. The Minister had also, mado some valuable suggestions, and had supplied them with a schemo of by-laws, which gave them moro power than they would have under the by-laws they had framed. For that reason ho wished to withdraw the proposal to confirm that by-law, so they might formulate a now by-law, and bring it up on a later occasion for confirmation.

Tho Mayor said he would liko to placo on record the Work dono by the Minister in assisting the council, in this matter. It was a more difficult matter to deal with than outsido peoplo thought. Ho believed that tho work done had laid tho foundation-stone of a municipal milk delivery in Wellington.

IMor on.tho.Mayor referred to tho difficult task ho had undertaken in trying to get the milk people to supply the public; at more reasonable rates. 110 had gone so far, but had no power to go further, and asked the Council's permission to refer the matter to tho Board of Trade.

Councillor Luckie: Better to handle it ourselves.

Tho Mayor: .Wo can't get any further. Councillor Luckie: Tho Board of Trado is'only an advisory body. Tho Mayor: Shall wo invoke their aid? Wo have'no power to go further—let us bring it under their notice. I notice that the Board mado a very sound proposition respecting the price of bread. If they only inquire into tho milk, question,' arid jjrovide somo machinery for tho Government to put into motion thoy will bo helping the country,. The Mayor's suggestion was agreed to.