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32
Milk and Dairies Consolidation Act, 1915.
In July, 1925, the Minister of Health issued a circular
drawing the attention of the Council to the Milk and Dairies
(Consolidation) Act, 1915, which came into operation on the
ist September, 1925. Section 21 (1) of the Act provided that
it should come into operation on such date, not being later
than the expiration of one year after the termination of the
war, as the Local Government Board might by order appoint.
Section 1 of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922,
enacted that the 1915 Act, notwithstanding anything contained
therein, should not come into operation before the
1st September, 1925. Although it was the evident intention
of the 1922 Act that the 1915 Act should come into operation
on the date mentioned, the Minister is advised that it is not
certain that this is effected automatically by the Act itself.
He has therefore deemed it advisable, in order to remove any
possible doubt, to make an Order formally appointing the
1st September, 1925, as the date of commencement of the Act.
The 1915 Act repeals and re-enacts a number of provisions
contained in the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts and the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts with regard to Milk and Dairies.
It also reproduces a number of amendments and new provisions
which were contained in the Milk and Dairies Act,
1914, the operation of which was deferred.
Sections 1 and 2 of the 1915 Act include provisions for the
making and enforcement of Milk and Dairies Orders, extending
the list of purposes for which similar Orders could be
made under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878.
It is proposed as soon as possible to make an Order under
the new powers, but in pursuance of the proviso to
Section 21 (3), the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milk-shops Orders
of 1885, 1886 and 1899, and the Regulations made by Local
Authorities under Article 13 of the Order of 1885 will, until
altered or revoked, continue in force as if made under the
new Act.
Sections 3, 4 and 5 and the First Schedule contain provisions
similar in effect to those which are contained in a
number of Local Acts for stopping the supply of milk which is
likely to cause tuberculosis. In the Local Acts the power of
stopping the supply is given to the Local Authority for the
consuming area and the prohibition only applies to that area.
Under the General Act the duty of enforcement is placed on the
Council of the County or County Borough in which the cows
are kept, and any Order made by them will prohibit the sale
of the affected milk in any area. Section 4 requires the
Medical Officer of Health of the County or County Borough
to make the necessary investigations on receipt of a notice