GERMAN POISONING OF FOOD.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 July 1919, Page 5

GERMAN POISONING OF FOOD.

____.___.,.__________ = APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNMENT: TASTERS, 1 An article published in the. Mel-E bo_urne “Age” recently regarding thei alleged poisoning by Germans in America of_ canned goods intended for econsumfition in the British Empire attracted widespread attention in: Australia, and from many quarters the i ‘Federal Governnient was‘ urged ‘ toi ‘take steps to protect the Australian! lpublic, against the possible danger. i lWhen_'the House of Beprcseiitatives imet recently Mr. ' Fowler _(Western| I*'Australia)-referl'ed to the article. In‘ ‘View of the possibility‘ ‘of iupoisonledl foodstuffs being sentfto Australia, he. asked the Minister for Customs to‘ have a stringent inquiry and reliable: tests made, so that the public mind! might be set at rest. Ml-_ Anstcy (Vic-E toria) urged the appointment of “Gov-} ernment tasters?’ (Laughter). Mr.l Maloney (Victoria) asked the Minis-1 ter to appoint a scientific committeel to watch over all imported foods gn-1 ing into Australia. Would the Mm~;.~.ter cable to America inquiring whether there was any truth in the statement? If it were found to be true, the Ministry should prohibit the importa’tion of foodstuffs. The Minister for Customs pl‘ollllSßd that exhaustive inquiries would be made_ If it Were found that there was any reasonable ground for the allegation, steps would immediately be taken to prohibit the importation of goods from countries where adulteration was taking place. I