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23
It is perhaps not generally recognised that at present the
statutory means of control over places where food is prepared
for sale is very inadequate, and that your officers have to
depend almost entirely on their personal influence in endeavouring
to safeguard the public health in this respect.
The proper conduct of the fried fish trade is of the
greatest importance to the working classes, and I sincerely
trust, therefore, that application will be made for the inclusion
of this business in the category of offensive trades, and that
then in due course the consequent steps will be taken to
legalise bye-laws for its proper control in the interests of
amenities."
The Committee, in view of their previous conclusion, have, I
understand, considered a draft order in this matter, and have
directed the Clerk to submit the same to the Local Government
Board. The effect of this order, if confirmed, will be that the fried
fish trade for this district will be scheduled under Section 51 of the
Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, and in due course byelaws
for the regulation of the trade will be prepared and submitted
to the Local Government Board in the usual way.
Practically all the meat sold in Barnes and Mortlake comes
from the Central Meat Market, but a little slaughtering is on
occasion done by one or two of the local butchers. When any
such slaughtering is done, Mr. Robinson, the Assistant Inspector
of Nuisances, a most zealous and efficient officer, who has received
special training in food inspection, is always present. In this
connection I would draw attention to a serious flaw in our
statutory armour. An officer such as Mr. Robinson, no matter how
highly trained, has, unless he is an Inspector under the Public
Health Act, no power to seize meat or other food, however rotten
it may be.