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33
On the other hand it was inevitable that a change from
the wasteful methods of prewar years had to come. The cost of
distribution of milk is a heavy charge on the industry and
one that must be borne by the consumer. It is difficult to
believe that until comparatively recent times, numerous small
one-man dairy businesses were struggling to maintain three
deliveries each weekday, and two on Sundays. Yet such was the
case and the resultant intense competition for business led
to practices which could not be commended and which were, in
the long run, detrimental to both dairyman and customer. It
was a common sight to see several different dairymen delivering
milk in the same road, and, on occasion, even to the same house,
the first delivery being from 6.0 a.m. onwards and the last
journey during the late afternoon, after which there was still
the washing of cans and utensils to be done before the day's
work was finished. Those were the days which even now are so
often, and glibly, described as "the good old times", by those
who have forgotten, or have not realised that there was
another side to the picture.
However, those days are gone, never to return. It must be
conceded that compared with the numerous small traders, the
smaller number of large firms have the necessary financial
resources to enable them to provide efficient equipment and
suitable buildings in which to handle such a precious foodstuff
as milk. And there is the added advantage that standardised
equipment may be evolved and thus simplify more of the
remaining difficulties. One of the greatest advantages which has
accrued from the change is that of the greatly reduced opportunity
now afforded for milk to be tampered with. There is far
less adulteration and manipulation to the prejudice of the
purchaser now than at any previous time during the last fifty
years. Another important effect has been to completely stop
the sale of milk from the small general shop, where the open
container was frequently found amidst most unsuitable
commodities.
Designated Milks. Apart from the Registrations under the
provisions of the Milk and Dairies Order 1926, which number 16,
and have been referred to above, licences are issued by the
Corporation to Dairymen, other than actual Producers, to permit
the sale of Jesignated milks. The licences issued during 1946
are set out below:-

Bacteriological examination of Milks. During the year 120
samples of milk were submitted to the Clinical Research
Association Laboratories, London. The usual examinations
requested were for the presence of B.Coli, and the total number
of bacilli (plate-count). Twelve of the 120 samples failed to
reach the accepted standard, either because of the presence of
B.Coli, or a high total count, or for both reasons. Some of
the sub-standard samples were taken from the producers' churns
at the time of delivery to the local dairyman's premises. In
all cases appropriate information was passed to the local
authority in whose district the relative producer's farm was
situate, and it is hoped that suitable 'follow-up' action was
taken, but information of such action was seldom subsequently
received.