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45
The powers of such Local Authorities should, moreover, be extended so as
to give power to a Local Authority, with proper safeguards, to cause the
supply of milk for human consumption from any source within their district
to be entirely stopped, if it should be found to be at any time contaminated or
capable of causing or conveying disease.
Such measures as were necessary would then be carried out under the Local
Authority, and the supply resumed on its becoming satisfactory.
In the event of a contaminated milk being found in any district, it would
then be only necessary for the Authority to communicate with the Local
Authority within whose district the source is situate whose officers, being on
the spot, and being fully acquainted with the conditions, could at once take
action, with the result that instead of one or more districts being protected at
the expense of others, the whole source of danger could be at once cut off.
This probably would require some Parliamentary enactment giving increased
power to the Local Government Board, as it is doubtful whether such measures
could be included in the above quoted objects of the Order.
Power should also be conferred upon the County Councils to act in default
of and at the expense of the Local Authority.
It should be pointed out that at present only thirty-eight of the sixty-two
Administrative Counties of England have actually appointed Medical Officers
of Health. One other (Somerset) has recently decided to make such
appointment.
But the necessity of some such radical steps is obvious, if any real attempt
is to be made to stop at its source the supply of contaminated and diseased
milk, and there could be no reasonable objection to such a proceeding.
I would, therefore, advise that the attention of the Local Government Board be
called to the above mentioned facts, and that they be urged to take such
action as they may deem fit.