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A number of other cases of persons, mostly of advancing years,
alleged to be living under unsatisfactory conditions, were reported. In
none of these was there justification for certifying that an application
for an Order for removal be made. In some cases, however, it was
found possible to arrange voluntary admission to hospital, and other
cases were under observation at the end of the year.
The question of the care and maintenance of old persons,
cially those living alone, is one which clearly calls for urgent and
thorough consideration.
PROTECTION OF FOOD SUPPLY.
(A)—INSPECTION OF FOOD PREMISES.
Regular and systematic inspection of all premises where food for
human consumption is prepared, stored, or sold is carried out as a
routine measure. In general, they have been found to be conducted
in a satisfactory manner, such irregularities as were found being mainly
of a minor nature remedy of which was secured without difficulty.
In the following two cases, however, recourse had to be had to legal
proceedings:-
(a) A factory where jelly crystals, soup powders, tomato sauce
and similar commodities were being prepared and packed,
The undermentioned contraventions of Section 13 (1) of the
Food and Drugs Act, 1938, were found to exist:-
(i) A sanitary convenience communicated directly with the
part of the building where the food was being handled.
(ii) A sufficient supply of hot water and clean towels was not
provided for the use of the employees.
(iii) Proper precautions to protect the food from contamination
were not being taken, as the premises generally were
in a dirty and untidy state, and materials such as
scouring powder, soap powder, etc., were being manufactured
and packed in close proximity to the foodstuffs.
After repeated warnings had failed to secure the remedy
of these conditions, legal proceedings were taken against the
firm occupying the factory, and against their principal director
for permitting the offences. The cases came before the Court
on the 20th May and were adjourned to the 25th June,
and then further adjourned to the 20th August, to enable
alterations to be carried out to the factory. By the
last-named date the first two contraventions had been
remedied, and the summonses in respect of them were
not separately dealt with. On the summonses for the
third offence, the and the director 40s., and
£10 10s. 0d. costs were awarded to the Council. The firm,
through their Counsel, gave an undertaking that, pending
sub-division of the building to separate the food and non-food
processes, the latter would be discontinued. The position was
under observation at the end of the year.