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The samples of milk from the large firms show the same
satisfactory state of affairs as was recorded last year. In the
quality of the milk of the small dealers, however, there was a falling
off. In milk distribution there is apparently the opportunity of
obtaining large profits. This has two unfortunate results—the
one is that the small inexperienced man turns to milk distribution
as a means of making a living and frequently, to obtain custom,
undercuts his competitors, sometimes being enabled to do so
by selling an inferior milk. The other disadvantage is that the
producer who turns to distribution, if at all successful, apparently
is soon driven to purchasing other milk, and on more than one
occasion a producer of satisfactory milk has changed into a retailer
of unsatisfactory milk produced by ot hers. Four samples of the
milk from one retailer gave unsatisfactory counts, on three occasions
cells being present; this retailer, when dealing only with his own
milk, never failed to attain a high standard of purity. Then again
there are constant changes in the producers from whom a supply
is obtained. If an unsatisfactory count is obtained, it may take
many weeks before the fault is remedied, and by that time the
six months contract is up and the retailer once more changes his
source. In one case where a small dealer obtained his milk outside
the locality, the reason for his unsatisfactory count was ultimately
traced to contamination of the milk utensils and the milking
machine.
(b) Meat and Other Foods.
Meat Inspection.
There are four slaughter-houses in the district, one licensed
and three registered. To these, a total of 696 visits was Paid
during the year. The carcases inspected numbered 2,723. The
following numbers of lbs. of meat of various classes of animals
were condemned and surrendered:—
Beasts 4,386 Pigs 1,301
Sheep 153 Calves 37