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84
is added to or amended there is a grave danger of contamination
to milk left open in exposed situations. I must, however, decide
this case according to the view I take of the law as it stands. Therefore
the summons must be dismissed with costs."
The decision of the Magistrate is of considerable importance in
its bearing on the powers of Sanitary Authorities in relation to the
Regulations made under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops
Order. The magistrate at the request of the Borough Solicitor
offered to state a case but this Council did not see their way to take
the case to the High Court. It was decided, however, to ask the
London County Council to take steps to have the Regulations
amended so as to provide that all those engaged in the milk trade
shall be required at all times to protect milk against infection or
contamination by the provision of suitable covers for milk vessels,
&c.
Fish Shops.
The fish shops in the Borough are 74 in number, a decrease of
5 as compared with 1910. In 52 of these places fried fish is sold,
in 13 wet and dried fish is sold and 9 sell wet, dried and fried fish.
These premises are frequently inspected and during the year,
24 preliminary and 4 statutory notices were served for various
insanitary conditions, all of which notices were complied with.
In addition 56 inspections were made by the Council's Food inspector
at these premises.
The new by-laws relating to the business of fried fish vendor
which have been made by the London County Council and are
awaiting confirmation by the Local Government Board and the
Home Office, will provide additional powers to sanitary authorities
for dealing with premises where this business is carried on.
Butchers' Shops.
There are 91 butchers' shops in Battersea, and a systematic
inspection of these premises is carried out by the Council's food
inspector. In 51 of them sausage making or food-chopping is
carried on, the work being done by hand in 37 instances and by
machinery in 14 cases.
Eighty-eight of the shops are provided with ice-safes.
The trade refuse is in most cases removed bi-weekly or oftener
from their premises and they are well-kept and on the whole, in a
satisfactory condition.
During 1911, 884 inspections of butchers' shops were made.