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companies make no difference in their charges when sealed cans are used,
which are stamped with their tare weight, and merely reserve the right to
open locked cans when there is any reasonable doubt as to the accuracy of the
consignment.
I have repeatedly pointed out the undesirability of consigning milk to
London railway stations in unsealed vessels.
The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries last year took further steps for
preventing pilfering or contamination of milk in transit by issuing on the
27th February a circular letter to makers in Great Britain of churns for
carriage of milk by rail.
The Board point out that two of the principal dairy farmers' associations
have for several years recommended their members to send their milk by
rail in sealed churns, and that the railway companies do not object to
carry milk in sealed churns, provided the tare weight is stamped on the
outside of the churn.
The Board suggest that the following points should be kept in view
in connection with the construction of milk churns :—
(1) The churn should have the tare weight stamped on the outside.
(2) The lid of the churn should be constructed so as to facilitate
sealing.
(3) The churn should be constructed so as to prevent, as far as
possible, the removal of milk from the churn while sealed.
(4) The churn should be constructed so as to prevent water being
added to the milk in the churn while sealed.
(5) The churn should be constructed so as to prevent dust or
dirt from being blown or washed into the churn when the lid is affixed.
There is no difficulty in making churns that fulfil these conditions,
and more than one firm has placed such on the market.
It is unfortunate that the Board have no power to enforce their
recommendations, and failing authority for this purpose it is doubtful
whether much immediate improvement will be effected even with the
co-operation of the various trade societies and associations throughout
the country. At present only a small proportion of milk sent to the
metropolis is conveyed in sealed churns, but it is to be hoped that the
action taken by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries will induce
manufacturers, when receiving orders for new churns, to advise the
adoption of churns made in accordance with the recommendations of
the Board.