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36
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Milk Supply.—Cow-keeping in^Willesden has for some years past been slowly but steadily
declining.
At the end of the year only one cow-keeper remained in Willesden. The premises are situated
in the most populated part of the district, and the number of cows kept average about 25.
During no part of the year are the animals let out in the fields to graze, but are confined in the
sheds continuously.
The amount of milk produced in the district from this one farm is a negligible percentage of
the amount consumed and, for all practical purposes, the total milk supply of Willesden is brought
into the district.
There are 156 retail milk purveyors in the district. These are inspected on an average three
times yearly. Particular attention is paid to the facilities provided for the washing and cleansing
of the utensils.
A marked improvement has taken place during the last few years in the distribution of milk.
Glass bottles are more used now than formerly and are gradually taking the place of the unsatisfactory
metal can. As an example, I would state that one large multiple milk firm have arranged to withdraw
all the metal milk cans now in use at each of their depots and to substitute glass bottles instead. They
also undertake to provide their customers with pasteurised milk without any extra charge.
No action was taken under the tuberculosis clauses of the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation)
Act, 1915, which came into operation in September, 1925.
The following table shows the number of licenses granted for the sale of graded milk under
the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923, during the year 1925

One license was granted by the Council to a local firm for the pasteurization of milk. The type
of apparatus used by this firm for pasteurizing the milk is of Danish invention, known as the " Silkeborg,"
and is supplied and fixed by an English firm. The holder has a capacity permitting four
hundred gallons of milk to be treated per hour. The amount of milk treated daily by this pasteurizing
plant averages from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons.
There were no refusals or revocations of retailers licenses for sale of graded milk during the
year.
The following table gives the result of examination of samples of graded milk taken in the
district during the years 1923, 1924 and 1925 :—