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reasonable, I am still of the opinion that more could be done
in this direction. Visits to food premises fulfil a very useful
purpose. It is not only possible during such visits to discover
defects and to suggest the appropriate remedy; what is much more
significant, opportunity is afforded for the tendering of advice
on a variety of subjects associated with clean food, all of which are
of vital importance to the community at large. The Sanitary
Inspector who visits food premises does so in a dual capacity.
He has the duty of ensuring that statutory requirements are being
strictly observed. He must also make his visits as a counsellor,
approaching the proprietors and staffs in a friendly manner and
offering such help and guidance as may be required. This latter
approach has always received due prominence in Southgate, and
I know that the Sanitary Inspectors make the fullest possible use
of the opportunities so afforded.
When I say that more work could be done in the way of
inspection of food premises, particularly in regard to the matter
of advice and guidance, I am not suggesting that the Sanitary
Inspectors have been in any way lacking in their duties. That is
very far from being the case. I do suggest, however, that the
time has arrived to consider the amount of time to be allocated
to food hygiene and clean food, in relation to the other duties
covered by the Sanitary Inspectors. In America, for instance,
special officers are appointed to carry out the important duties
relating to clean food. It may be a coincidence that the standard
of cleanliness in regard to food handling and distribution in the
United States is particularly high; but one cannot help feeling that
the amount of time devoted to this subject has had a definite
bearing on the results achieved. I would personally like to see
such an officer appointed in Southgate or, if this is not possible,
more time being available to the Sanitary Inspectors to undertake
duties in relation to clean food. If, for instance, the Chief Sanitary
Inspector were relieved of district duties, he could devote a
substantial portion of his time to work in connection with food
hygiene. I put this forward as a suggestion for future consideration,
in the sincere conviction that the results would fully justify the
expenditure involved.
In my Annual Report for 1949, I stated that the following
year should see the inauguration of a Hygienic Food Traders'
Guild in Southgate. Unfortunately, due to circumstances over
which the Borough Council had no control, progress has not been
quite so rapid as one had hoped. Steps have certainly been taken
to inaugurate a local Hygienic Food Traders' Guild, but that Guild
is not yet in active operation. From information recently received,
however, it is fully anticipated that progress will be speeded up,
and that the Southgate Hygienic Food Traders' Guild will be an
established, operative body within the next few months.
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