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The following remarks on the year's work which are here submitted
were drawn up by the Wharves Inspector, Mr. T. Ashdown.
Unsound Food and Foreign Meat Regulations.
Reviewing the operations under the regulations in this district
during the year ending 31st December, 1916, a comparison
with past years would be useless and brevity is a necessity.
There has been no new legislation directly dealing with these
matters, and no new orders have come into operation. We have
adhered to the same methods as in the past in all initial inspections,
but in the enleavour to prevent unnecessary waste of food
stuffs a very large amount of work has been done in actually
sorting and supervising the sorting of goods found by the initial
inspections to be unsound in various degrees, and with the results
as indicated in the tabulated statements. I might point out that
this extra work has greatly reduced the average annual number
of visits, but by reference to the tables mentioned it will be seen
that the quantities of food stuffs dealt with about 6,465 tons
were utilised for purposes other than the food of man (principally
cattle food), and this, to a small extent, supports the contentions
I have expressed in previous reports with regard to the costly
waste of what should be a valuable material.
With regard to the disposal of that portion actually destroyed
we have adhered to the same methods as in the past; although
the cost of destruction has become more expensive, but in spite
of this a good deal of material which might be utilised is completely
lost.
Beyond the above there has not, in my opinion, been any
case of sufficiently special interest to warrant comment by me
in these strenuous times.
Customs Authorities.
The most amicable feeling exists with these officers, and
the ever ready and valuable assistance rendered by them is deserving
of the warmest thanks.
FOOD AND DRUGS.
In Tables VIII. and IX. of Appendix will be found a list
of the samples taken in 1916, and the action taken; 1,001 samples
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