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at cost price, or fumigation carried out by the Department at
the owner's expense, after the walls have been stripped, as
required.
Common Lodging Houses.—There is one registered Common
Lodging House, namely No. 42, Merton High Street, for which
an annual Certificate of Registration was granted from 1st
January, 1928, to 31st December, 1928. These premises have
been visited from time to time when a few minor defects have
been found. These have always been remedied immediately the
owner's attention has been directed to them. The premises
are kept in a satisfactory condition.
Van Dwellings.—During the year, 125 visits have been paid
to the caravans in the district and it has been found necessary
to serve Notices with respect to two of them. Generally speaking,
the vans have, as far as practicable, been kept in a fairly
reasonable condition. New Regulations with respect to these
dwellings are being adopted and will be put in force early in
the new year.
Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops.—Seventeen applications
were received during the year from persons desirous of being
registered under the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915,
the Milk and Dailies (Amendment) Act, 1922, and the Milk and
Dairies Order, 1926.
One hundred and three inspections have been made of the
Prenlises of dairymen and purveyors of milk in the district,
during which three matters were discovered which required to
be dealt with by the Department.
In addition to the visits to premises, observations have
been kept in the early hours of the morning when milk is being
delivered, as it is at this time that the chief offence, namely,
the buttling and careless handling of milk, is most likely to take
place. This work is very exacting and it has taken careful
watching for weeks, and sometimes months, before a suspected
offender has been actually observed committing a breach of the
Regulations. The seriousness of this offence cannot be too
strongly emphasised for it is always possible that a dirty bottle
from one house is filled in the streets and delivered to another
house. I think it is only fair to point out that it is not a general
practice, but there are a few offenders who appear to have no
respect for the commodity they are handling or for the Regulations
in force.
Legal proceedings were instituted in the following cases
with the results as stated: —
1.—For selling milk in dirty bottle.
Dealt with under First Offenders' Act on payment of
Costs, £8 12s.
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