PURE FOODS ACT OPENLY FLOUTED

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 1

PURE FOODS ACT OPENLY FLOUTED

TjTHE regulation regarding the use of A boric acid was suspended by former Minister of Health J. A. Y6ung, He did not specify any definite period, and instead of obtaining an Ortter-in-Council he simply directed the. Departmental officials that they not to prosecute. Mr.' Stallworthy in' his turn countenanced the action of his predecessor since he took office, .because then> have been no prosecutions and no attempt has been: made by, the Ministei to prevent} the public from being fed on this dangerous preservative.. Whether or not Mr. Stallworthy declared that his officers could prosecute, the fact remains that they have-not taken . any proceedings, and that, on the face of the .whole facts, it, seems competent -for them .to prosecute, since "the regulation permitting the use of boric acid - has .expired, and its use is ttiereby prohibited..;. Why, then/ does Mr. Stallworthy -'haw- deny, making the original statement?. 1 '■'■ -•'. ;': "_•.;■ ■■•■-.'■'.' As ,' guardian : of the public's health,. Mr.' Stallworthy's" attitude' is/ incornprehensible v and;viridefen!-' sible. The' law. is ;r that b;bric acfdv.. shall-, np,t ,be used, and yit is- the _M injster's^ job to see that that law is enforced. In failing to do that he is failing m his duty to the public, and the sooner "Cabinet; takes the matter 'into its hands and'sees that the regulation is enforced the better from the public's point of view.' „ •,- This paper has no hesitation m branding Mr. Stallworthy's actions as entirely unworthy of a responsible Minister. He should have taken action long ago. When approached by this paper to ascertain' whether prosecutions had been launched, the gave a sorry exhibition of political side-stepping. To commence with .'- there was a lengthy wait: while another cailer was being seen. Then the Minister left his room and . crossed the passage to a roo^m" communicating with one occupied by his private, , secretary: But "Truth's" representative was not' close enough on this occasion to 'take the initiative. The Ministerial advent "across the way" was followed by. considerable actiyity. His private secretary rushed oujfc of his own room m . cyclonic fashion and m: cyclonic ■' fashion re-entered. The . Messen- . ger ambled, m and out, and ultimately, on one of his trips returned with a newspaper file. Even the "typiste seemed to feel the need for a , refresher, _ and- she floated out once or twice into the corridor. Bored by the sight Jof so much energy on the part of others, ''Truth's" representative paid another visit to the private secretary, and endeavored to .get a little 'action ,on his own behalf. ' \ > - / "I'm afraid it's your unlucky day," was this gentleman's contribution. "Mr. Stallworthy is too , busy to sao you." In Jno mood to argue the abstruse problem' of whether playing hide-and-seek with a Cabinet Minister could be termed a game of chance or. a game of skill, the reporter suggested that the secretary 'ascertain when the Minister .could be interviewed. "Well, he has a Cabinet meeting this affernoon," said the secretary helpfully.' "Please ask him when he will see me," was the reporter's demand. The secretary departed hurriedly. Profound silence settled about the precincts of the Minister of Health's domain. Evidently discouraged by the outlook on their earlier matutinal perambulations the staff had decided to stay put. ' . . A quarter of an Hour went by with ".Truth's" representative parked stragetically with his. back to the Minister's private room. Suddenly, Mr. Stallworthy appeared m the opposite doorway. .-■-••'■ ' HSorry," he said, "but I'm too busy to see you now." He was told that the matter would not occupy more. than five minutes of his time and that it was urgent. The Minister executed a flanging movement' and gained the door of his room, at the samp time reiterating his first remark. Before he had time to enter and close the door, 'he was reminded of the statement he had made

STALLWORTHY FAILS IN DUTY

Allows Bacon -curers To IJse Dangerous Boric Acid Preservative

MINISTER POW DENIES STATEMENT : (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative) ■;•-,

IIIIMIIIIMIIMIIMimMIIII llllMllllimiimiiiiiiimniH iiiimi.ihmi ■ r 1 Having declared to "NiZ. Truth" some weeks ago that the Department of Health was at liberty ta prosecute persons I using boric acid m the preservation of bacon or. other foodstuffs, Minister of Health A. J. Stallwqrthy ha^tak^no step* to 1 warn bacon : curers thafit is now illegal.to use boric acid or to institute proceedings against those who are flagrantly flouting I the law.^ _ Stallworthy has now denied to "Truth" that he ever made the. statement _ attributed to him. He de--1 clares that he was grossly misreported. This charge 4< Truth" denies, declaring that, m its opinion the statement was made, I aid that Mr. Stallworthy was correctly reported. ■ ., A A .. ;■• . „, . A - A ir , +y yanr . oe L- tTa I ■•■"■ Apart, however, from this aspect, which is a matter of opinion, the position is that the use of boncacid m the preservai tion of ba«on is illegal; and that it is the Minister's duty to immediately instruct his officers to institute proceedings against S , these bacori-curers, instead of calmly allowing the laws of the country to be openly flouted. 5

when previously interviewed; and. was asked whether he had directed the Health Department to enforce the Act. Mr. Stallworthy hesitated m th/e act of closing his', door-—and was ; lpst, His attention, he said, had been directed to the article. There were things; published m it that had not been said m the interview.^ His secretary agreed with him m this, as he was present. "Your secretary was not present when you made the statements attributed to you as' published m that. aTti'cleT'^r^St-ailwdrthy," was the reply. r The Minister (door now half closed) : He. was.': • : ',';'":. ;'\ .''■. . "Truth": When you made the statement that the' Department had the power to prosecute then and there, it was made to me m the corridor, and your secretary was not present. . The , door -was by this time almost closed, but the next question momentarily stayed its progress. I "Will you please, indicate to me one [ fact m that article that is incorrect,

had made to "Truth" arid whether bacon-curers had been warned that the suspension of the provisions of the Act had been cancelled. The Minister's reply was a query as to whether it would ' not have been better had the pressman submitted to him, Mr. Stallworthy, the statement to be published to make certain if it was correct. . * . > He was told that this was not considered necessary, and that the usual newspaper- custom had been followed. Mr. Stallworthy then stated that the facts as contained m the article were untrue, because they had never been uttered.. I "Truth": Have you read the article, Mr. Stallworthy?— No, but fny secretary has stated that what is said m that article was not.said ! m the interview. j "j have already said, Mr. Stallworthy, that your secretary was » | hot present when you made that statement, so that he cannot be aware of what was said," countered "Truth's" representative. , '■