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BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON COUNCIL AGENDA.—January 3rd 1902.
CARRIAGE OF MILK BY RAIL.
Copy of Correspondence between the Board of Agriculture, the Board of Trade
and the Railway Companies' Association.
I.
From Assistant Secretary, Board of Agriculture, to Assistant Secretary (Railway Department),
Board of Trade.
20th May 1899.
Sir,
I am directed by the Board of Agriculture to state, for the information of the Board of Trade,
that, in the course of the proceedings on the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill, it has been represented
that considerable hardship arises by reason of the prosecution of milk producers in cases in which
milk is proved to have been pure when handed over to a railway company for conveyance to the
consignee, but is found upon arrival at the station of destination to have been adulterated.
The Board are informed that, except in cases in which rates in excess of those usually charged
for the conveyance of milk are paid, it is the practice of the railway companies to require that milkchurns
delivered to them for conveyance by rail should be unlocked, and the consignor is therefore
unable to take any precautions to prevent persons, whether in the employ of the company or not,
from having access to or from tampering with the milk while it is in the charge of the company,
although he still remains liable to prosecution should the milk be adulterated in transit
The Board desire me therefore to invite the observations of the Board of Trade on the subject,
and to inquire whether in their judgment it would be feasible to provide any remedy for the complaints
referred to.
I am, etc.,
(Signed) P. G. Craigie.
II.
From Assistant Secretary (Railway Department), Board of Trade, to Secretary, Board of
Agriculture.
17th October 1899.
Sir,
Adverting to your letter of the 20th May last with reference to the regulations of railway companies
respecting the conveyance of milk, and to the question of the liability to prosecution in the
event of milk being adulterated in transit, I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit herewith
for the information of the Board of Agriculture a copy of a letter which has been received from the
Railway Companies' Association on the subject.
I am, etc.,
(Signed) Francis J. S. Hopwood.
Enclosure.
From Railway Companies' Association, King's Cross Station, to Assistant Secretary (Railway
Department), Board of Trade.
October 12 th 1899.
Sir,
With reference to your communication (No. R. 7,352) of the 29th May last, enclosing a copy of
a letter dated 20th May from the Board of Agriculture, with regard to the regulations of the railway
companies for the conveyance of milk, and to the question of the liability to prosecution in the event
of the milk being adulterated in transit: The railway companies have considered the question, and I
am requested to inform you with reference to the statement made in the letter from the Board of
Agriculture, that senders have for a long time been allowed to send milk in sealed cans, the companies
accept the declaration of the senders as to the quantity conveyed, no extra charge being made; the
only condition the companies require tc be fulfilled is that the tare weight of the cans shall be stamped
upon the outside of the can, so that in case of doubt the quantity of milk within the churn can be
approximately ascertained by allowing 10J lbs. for each gallon of milk declared.
It does not appear to the companies that there is any difficulty in the senders protecting themselves
against alleged loss of milk in transit by sealing, padlocking, or otherwise fastening their cans.
I am, etc.
(Signed) H. Oakley.
III.
From Assistant Secretary, Board of Agriculture, to Assistant Secretary (Railway Department),
Board of Trade.
9th November 1899.
Sir,
Adverting to Mr. Hopwood's letter of the 17th ult. (R. 12,901), and to the enclosure from Sir
Henry Oakley on behalf of the Railway Companies' Association, I am directed by the Board of
Agriculture to inquire whether they may understand from Sir Henry Oakley's letter that sealed or
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