View report page

134
registration could this information be made available; further, an
opportunity would thus be afforded for insisting on a reasonable standard
of cleanliness before the registration of the premises, instead of the
present procedure which merely tends to alleviate unsatisfactory conditions
already existing.
The position to-day so far as registration is concerned remains the
same. On the Deptford Register we have a list of 136 Ice Cream
Makers, but it is notorious that vendors can stroll in from any outside
area with their barrows. The London County Council General Powers
Act, 1902, forbids the manufacture, sale or storage of any ice cream in
any cellar, shed or room having a drain inlet, or used as a living or
sleeping room. Also anything done or left undone likely to expose ice
cream to infection or contamination is liable to lead to a fine. The
name and address of the person supplying the ice-cream must be on
each itinerant vendor's barrow. The present regulations are quite out
of date. Ice cream is now being increasingly manufactured on a large
scale by firms who are thoroughly alive to the hygienic side of the
subject. 1 recently inspected the premises, the preparation and
packing of ice cream in a large factory solely devoted to the purpose,
situated near to Waterloo Station. I was particularly struck with the
attention paid by the women employees to the cleanliness of hands,
nails, etc. The ice cream is put up in packets and containers and sold
by lads who cycle throughout London. If it is too much to hope for
the manufacture and sale of ice cream only by such firms, the public
might well deal only with trustworthy firms. The use of small glasses
by street vendors or shopkeepers who cannot or do not use hot water
or clean towels to cleanse the glasses, is a practice which cannot be
countenanced, as such are liable to be vehicles for contamination. The
use of perishable wafers should be made compulsory. Despite the
fact that a close watch is kept by the Inspector and myself over the
" sculleries," " sheds in the yards," and kitchens in which ice cream is
made locally, I am satisfied that it would be a good thing if the industry
could be confined to firms and people whose premises and hygienic
instincts are above suspicion.
(The question of registration is being raised again with the County
Council.)