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77 [1938
Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. —The marking of imported food with an indication
of the country of origin is regulated by various orders made under this Act.
During the year 1 trader was warned for failing to mark imported meat, 3 for tomatoes
and 3 for apples. Proceedings were taken against a costermonger for describing
foreign tomatoes as "English" on two occasions in one day. On the first occasion
a display ticket was prominently displayed bearing the words "English tomatoes,"
and when spoken to he removed this ticket and marked the fruit with the name of the
country of origin. The stall was visited again a few hours later when it was found
that this latter mark had been substituted with the words "English Seed." When
the case was heard the defendant appealed to the Bench for sympathy and they
dismissed the case under Probation of Offenders Act on payment of 20s. costs; he
then asked for time to pay and when this was granted thanked the Bench for their
kind consideration, adding that he had "a small matter at North London" which
he had to settle.
Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Acts, 1928 and 1931.—
During the year Regulations relating to the grading and marking of beef and cauliflower
and broccoli were made. A full list of the Orders and Regulations was given
in the Medical Officer of Health's Annual Report for 1937.
Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.—Three traders were warned for
offences against the above Regulations but no prosecutions were deemed necessary.
Diseases of Animals Acts—Anthrax Order, 1928.—On one occasion during
the year the above Order relating to animals was applied in the Borough, the infected
material was destroyed and the premises disinfected as required by the Ministry.
Offensive Trades. —The offensive trades operating in the Borough are three
tripe dressers, five gut scrapers and one knackers' yard. Eighty-four visits were made
during the period and no breach of the Regulations was observed. Three skin dressers
are under the supervision of the Inspector of Workshops.
By-laws for the Protection of Food.—By-laws for this purpose were made
under Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and came into force during 1937. No
prosecution has been taken during the period under review.
Slaughtermen's Licences.—Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.—The Public
Health Committee on the 28th November, 1938, authorised the renewal of existing
and issue of new licences to cover a period of three years as from the 1st January,
1939, expiring on the 31st December, 1941, at the same fee as hitherto charged for
a period of one year.
Of the 38 slaughtermen who were licensed under this Act during 1937, 32 applied
for them to be renewed and 6 new applications for licences were received all of
which were granted after investigation, making a total of 38 licensed slaughtermen
on our register at the end of the year.
Restaurant Kitchens.—The work of inspecting restaurant kitchens is
tabulated under Workshops, and is done by the two women inspectors.
The following is a tabulated statement of the premises examined, and the
results. In each case the unsatisfactory conditions were remedied.