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The purveyors concerned were observed filling bottles with
milk in a public thoroughfare, contrary to the provisions of the
above sub-section.
In each case the magistrate convicted and imposed a fine of
£1 and £1 1s. costs.
Delivery and Sale of Milk.—There are two matters to which
the attention of those engaged in the milk industry might be
directed in connection with the delivery and sale of milk.
Many wholesalers deliver milk to retailers in bulk in 17 and
10 gallon churns or 12, 10, 8 and 6 quart hand cans, according to
the quantity required.
These receptacles are deposited either in the doorways of the
various shops or on the public footpath outside, where they often
remain for some hours.
This practice undoubtedly lends itself to the chance of the
milk being tampered with by unscrupulous persons, more
especially on dark mornings, and there is the additional risk, particularly
in the ease of the smaller receptacles, for the same to be
fouled by dogs, etc.
In the past there have been milk prosecutions instituted by
this Council where a warranty defence had been set up, but the
warranty lias not been upheld upon evidence being given of the
length of time the milk had been left outside registered premises.
As milk is such an important article of food, every precaution
should be taken to ensure its protection from tampering and contamination,
and the question arises as to the steps that are necessary
to be taken for this purpose. It would seem that either the
consignee should be compelled to accept immediate delivery,
which may probably be regarded as an unreasonable request in
view of the existing practice of delivery at a very early hour in the
morning, or the wholesaler should be asked to make a later
delivery consistent with the early morning demand of the retailers'
customers.
Some of the wholesale distributors now deliver milk to many
retailers in ½-pint, one pint and one quart bottles, and in the
course of time there is no doubt that this form of delivery will
become universal. This arrangement is a very desirable one, and
by its extended adoption, coupled with a later delivery, the risk of
tampering and fouling will be reduced to a minimum.
There is, however, one disadvantage in this method of sale
in so far as it affects the small retailer who receives his supply
already bottled.