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15
The fat-melting business referred to in my report last year
still exists, and it will be necessary for the Council to consider
the advisability of framing bye-laws for the regulation of this
offensive trade.
FOOD.
Milk Supply.
The following pages will shew the condition under which the
milk trade is carried on in this district.
It will be seen that there is still room for improvement in
the conditions under which milk is sold.
I believe that as milk is such an important food-stuff and
is so liable to harbour germs of disease, that the trade should be
regarded as a highly specialised one, and that special premises
should be provided for this trade alone.
Cow-keepers and Cowsheds.
The number of persons registered as cow-keepers in the
district is 10.
The registered cow-keepers carry on their trade in 18
cowsheds. These cowsheds were visited by the Sanitary Inspectors
127 times during the year, or an average of 7 times each cowshed.
There are usually about 94 milch cows housed in these
premises. In the case of five cowsheds, the animals are wholly
stall fed.
In 9 instances contraventions of the regulations were noticed
and certain improvements or alterations carried out, these included
improvements to the ventilation, lighting, drainage and repairs
to floors and walls.
There are, however, certain matters which it is difficult to
remedy. I refer more especially to means for cleanliness being
provided to prevent the milk being contaminated ; it is somewhat
unusual for grooming of cows or cleansing of the udders to be
carried out as a routine, or for facilities for the milkers to wash
their hands or wear overalls before milking, yet I believe the
non-observance of these points is a prolific source of dirty milk.