CITY MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2956, 20 December 1916, Page 6

THE SEALING OF CANS

ABOUT THE FLY PEST

The public health committeo of the City Council had a talk "with the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) yesterday, about the Wellington milk supply and the recent regulations for tho extermination of flies. The members of tho committee present were Councillors R. A. Wright, T. Bush, and A. Veitch, and Mr. J.' Doyle, chief sanitary inspector for the City Council, was also present.

Mr. Bush said that the Minister was no doubt well aware of_ what had taken place in connection with the clearing house proposal. The council, however, could not undertake the establishment of a clearing house at present, firstly, because they had not the money to spond, and, secondly, because they had not sufficient information to warrant their going on with it. They had had several interviews with Dr. Smith, District Health Officer, and tliev thought that his schemo of aoaling all milk cans was an excellent cne. ) Farmers had Taised some objection to the sealing of milk cans, but he wished to assure the Minister that 40 cans could be sealed in tho manner proposed by Dr. Smith in about ten minutes. Tliey wished to ask that the Minister should have regulations framed making the sealing of cans obligatory, for they believed that this would be a very great >"'d in securing to the people pure milk. They understood that some similar regulations had been framed seme years ago, but that-they hod been withdrawn without having ever been enforced.

Mr. Veitcli urged the importance of pronrob action owing to the liear approach of the hot weather. The practice of sealing cans, lie snid. wns already in vogue in T>arts of tlie "United •States nnd' Great' Britain, and ho believed the farmers would not object to the proposal when they knew how simple the operation of sealing cans could 'be done.

The Minister snid lie was not prepared to give a definite answer at once. The matter would require careful examination, especially in view of the fact tliat it liadi been the subject of regulations in tlie past, tad .these regulations had never been enforced. He would, however, see whether ft would he possible to frame regulations which would apply to Wellington only. If so, lie would ho glad to give ffio matter favourable consideration. He" 'quite thought that the milk vendors in the City were entitled to more protection than they were getting, and this could be obtained by frequent inspection of the milk at the farm gates. Whether the clearing house was established or not, the Health Department would not surrender its right to examine the milk at any point during tho courso of distribution. In fact he was not so sure that it would not be advisable to follow up the milk after it left the clearing house and see that the consumer handled it in a cleanly manner. Dirty utensils in the homes might account for someof tho trouble. Replying to a question, he promised to let tho _ committee have a reply before Christmas.

Mr. Doyle handed to tho Minister a copy of some by-laws which tho council proposed to bring into operation regarding tho fly pest. Tho council had found that a great deal of the diffioulty in carrying out tho campaign against flies was owing to the ignorance of the people on tho matter. It wae suggested that the Minister should arrange for tho display of a kinematograph film or something of the kind whiofi would bring home to the people tho dangers of the fly. pest.

Mr. Russell said that the Department already _ had a film, and he would have it examined to see whether it was suitable for the purpose intended. The Department was anxious to assist, and if the film was not suitable he would probably arrange to have another one prepared and displayed.