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Section E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
(a) Milk Supply.
The changes in administration regarding milk and
dairies, which were included in the Pood and Drugs (Milk
and Dairies) Act, 1944, came into force in 1949, the
Appointed day' being 1st October.
The main change consists in the transfer of
responsibility for the supervision of milk production from
Local Authorities to the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries.
When the Act was in the Bill stage, considerable opposition
to the proposals for transfer of functions to the Ministry
was voiced. It was felt that milk production was essentially
a public health matter. Those misgivings remain in the
minds of many people experienced in the business.
The change had no effect in this Borough as there
are no milch herds in the town.
Local Authorities remain responsible for supervision
of the distribution of milk after it leaves the farms.
The new Milk and Dairies Regulations, 1949 replaced
the earlier Regulations, and made necessary the compilation
of a new Register of premises used as dairies and of
persons engaged in the trade of milk distributor.
(b) Designated MilkS.
These milks became subject to special regulations,
involving the issue of licences to the persons engaged in
the distribution of such milks.

(c) Bacteriological Examination of Milk.
During the year 1949, 83 samples of milk were submitted
for examination to the Public Health Laboratory at
Epsom. Of these 83, 73 were of 'Pasteurised' or 'Heat
Treated. Milk and all samples satisfied the Phosphatase
and Methylene Blue Tests, with two exceptions. In these
two instances, the Phosphatase Test was satisfied, but the
samples failed to pass the Methylene Blue Test.
Of the milk sold as 'Ordinary', 3 samples contained
B, Coli in 1/100 ml. or less.