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The subject is not dealt with in the County Council's General Powers Bill for the current
session, but a private Bill is before the House which proposes to confer on the Metropolitan Borough
Councils discretionary power to establish milk depots. Without waiting for legislation, however,
some of the Borough Councils are considering the desirability of establishing depots in their districts.
Meantime, the Government Auditor regularly surcharges the Battersea Council on account of the
expenses incurred by them in connection with their depot: but, so far, the Local Government
Board, in the exercise of their equitable jurisdiction, have remitted the surcharges made; as I am
informed by Dr. McCleary, the Medical Officer of Health, to whom I am indebted for the following
observations on the subject which will be read with interest:—
"The first surcharge was made at the audit in November, 1902, on account of expenditure
incurred during the year ending March 31st, 1902: that is to say, expenditure incurred before
the depot was open. We appealed against the surcharge; and, in October, 1903, the Board
informed us that they confirmed the auditor's decision but remitted the disallowance. We
then appealed to the Local Government Board to allow the expenses, under the Local
Authorities Expenses Act, 1887. On February 16th, 1904, we received a letter from the
Board declining to sanction the expenditure, so as to withdraw it from the district auditor's
jurisdiction. We were again surcharged, on March 30th, 1904, and on April 27th, 1904, the
surcharge was remitted in a letter from the Board, a copy of which I enclose herewith."
The letter of the Local Government Board, addressed to the Town Clerk and the Accountant
of the Council, was as follows:—
"I am directed by the Local Government Board to inform you that they have considered
your appeal against the surcharge of sums amounting to £320 17s. lid., made by Mr. A. C.
Roberts, District Auditor, at his audit for the year ended the 31st March, 1903, of your
Accounts, as Clerk and Accountant, respectively, of the Council of the Metropolitan Borough
of Battersea, together with his reason for making such surcharge.
"The sum in question represents charges in your accounts, in respect of wages and disbursements,
in respect of the provision and maintenance of a depot for the sale of sterilised
milk; and, as in regard to the surcharge made at the same audit on certain members of the
Borough Council who authorised expenditure in connection with the same matter, so, in the
present instance, the Board confirm the Auditor's decision as lawful. They are prepared in
your case, also, to remit the surcharge in the exercise of the equitable jurisdiction conferred
upon them, and a certificate to that effect is enclosed."
I think it may be confidently anticipated that in the Parliamentary Session of 1906 this subject
will be dealt with, and brought to a satisfactory conclusion, in a General Powers Bill, promoted by
the London County Council, should the Bill now before the House fail to pass.
Unclean Milk.—The Islington Borough Council, early in the year, communicated to the
Metropolitan Borough Councils a report by their Medical Officer of Health on the subject of the
London Milk supply, stating that they had addressed a letter to the London County Council
suggesting that they should obtain powers to prevent the introduction into the Metropolis of milk
containing sediment of a dirty character, and had communicated with the Local Government Board
with a view to the better enforcement, outside London, of the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops
Order, and of the regulations made thereunder. They also expressed the opinion that the London
County Council might with advantage apply to Parliament for such additional powers as would
enable them to inspect dairies, cowsheds and cattle from which milk is supplied to the County of
London; or, as an alternative, for powers to prevent the introduction of milk from such districts as
do not enforce the aforesaid Order and regulations. The communication was referred to the Public
Health Committee, who reported that, whilst in sympathy with the object of the Islington Borough
Council, they were not prepared to advise the Council to adopt in their entirety the suggestions put
forward; they recommended however, and the Council directed, that " a communication be
addressed to the Local Government Board urging them to secure, as far as possible, the better
enforcement by the provincial District Councils of the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order,
and the regulations made thereunder." In the interests of the public health, action in this direction
should assuredly be taken; it being manifest that not sufficient care is taken to protect milk from
contamination before it reaches the consumer.