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71
The action of the Health Committee cannot fail to be productive
of satisfactory results in regard to the conditions under
which the sale of milk has, in the past, been carried on in Battersea.
The sale of milk in premises in which a general assortment
of merchandise is sold, the nature of many articles of which is
likely to injuriously affect it, cannot be defended, and in curtailing
the long list of such premises (nearly half the total premises
registered in the Borough) by such a considerable percentage, the
conditions under which milk is now sold in the Borough are, in this
respect, greatly improved. Moreover, these premises (general
shop) which are still retained on the register have been rendered
sanitarily much more suitable, and the owners given to understand
that the requirements of the Council as to the protection of this
article of food will have to be maintained if their names are to
remain on the register.
During the year 1909 the Milk Bill introduced by the Government
had to be withdrawn owing to lack of time for dealing
with it. It is to be regretted that the Bill which presented many
admirable features did not receive the sanction of Parliament.
The need for powers for effectually controlling the milk supply
at its source is a pressing one, and it is to be hoped that the
legislature will deal with the milk supply of the country as a
whole at the earliest possible moment.
Fish Shops.
There are 75 of these premises in Battersea, an increase of
seven, as compared with 1908. In 53 of these places fried fish
is sold; in 18, wet and dried fish is sold; and four shops sell wet,
dried and fried fish.
These premises are frequently inspected, and during the year
notices were served in 28 instances for various insanitary conditions,
all of which were complied with. In addition 75 inspections
were made by the Food Inspector at these premises.
Butchers' Shops.
There are 91 butchers' shops in Battersea, all of which are
regularly and frequently inspected by Inspector Chuter. In 54 of
these premises sausage-making or meat-chopping is carried on,
the work being done by hand in 39 cases and by machinery in
15 cases.
Ninety of the shops are provided with ice-safes.
The trade refuse is, in the majority of instances, moved biweekly
or oftener from these premises, and they are well-kept and
are on the whole in a satisfactory condition.
During 1909, 1,017 inspections of butchers' shops were made.