§ (1) It shall be the duty of every local authority, as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, to make by-laws for their district providing—
- (a) for the inspection of cattle in dairies;
- (b) for prescribing and regulating the structure, lighting, ventilation (including air and floor space), cleansing, drainage, washing, and scalding facilities, and water supplies of dairies and their appurtenants;
- (c) for the prevention of impurities in milk intended for human consumption and for securing the cleanliness and health of the cows and the cleanliness of the persons and clothing of those engaged or assisting in the business, and of the milk, cows, dairies, sculleries, boiler-houses, and all utensils, vehicles, and vessels used for the reception, conveyance, storage, or sale of milk;
- (d) for prescribing precautions to be taken by dairymen against infection or contamination.
§ Such by-laws shall apply to all dairies whether constructed before or after the passing of this Act, but by-laws under paragraph (b) of this Sub-section may, if the Board so require or allow, differentiate between such dairies as regards structure, lighting, ventilation (including air and floor space), and drainage, and shall not be applicable to dairies where the dairyman sells milk only in small quantities and for their own consumption to persons in his employment or to neighbours, and if any question shall arise as to whether a dairy is entitled to exemption under this provision, such question shall be determined by the Board, whose decision shall be final.
§ (2) The provisions of Sections one hundred and eighty-three to one hundred and eighty-seven inclusive of the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, as to by-laws shall apply in the case of by-laws made or to be made under this Section subject to the following modifications, namely:—
- (a) The Board shall before confirming any such by-laws, consult with the Board of Agriculture for Scotland;
- (b) The clerk shall furnish, on application, a copy of proposed by-laws, free of charge, to any dairyman within the district to which it is proposed that the same shall apply.
§ Any Regulations made by the local authority under the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Orders of 1885, 1887, and 1899, shall continue in force until the date on which by-laws made by the local authority under this Section take effect, but thereafter shall cease to have force or effect.
§ Amendment made: Leave out the words, "and shall not be applicable to dairies where the dairyman sells milk only in small quantities and for their own consumption to persons in his employment or 2008 to neighbours, and if any question shall arise as to whether a dairy is entitled to exemption under this provision, such question shall be determined by the Board, whose decision shall be final."—[Mr. McKinnon Wood.]
Major HOPEI beg to move, in Subsection (2), paragraph (a), to leave out the words "consult with," and insert instead thereof the words "obtain the concurrence of."
§ Mr. HOGGEThe Scottish Members of the Committee objected very strongly to this Amendment, and it was defeated. After all, the Secretary for Scotland is the head of the Board of Agriculture, and he would require to be consulted in every case, and it seems to us unnecessary to duplicate the work in that respect. It is scarcely fair to have this Amendment thrown at us again without having the Bill or even the Amendments in our hands. We did not know that this was being taken this afternoon, and none of us have the Amendments from the Vote Office. It is slightly unfair that we are not able to discuss this point when it was defeated by the majority of Scottish Members. Surely we ought to have some statement from the Scottish Secretary as to why he has accepted this. He ought to be fair to the majority of the Committee, and explain why he has altered his view.
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt is very reasonable that my hon. Friend should ask me to explain why I have not altered my view but accepted this as part of an arrangement or compromise. Though I think the words which appeared in the Bill originally are the better form, practically it makes very little difference whether you have one form or the other, and if my hon. Friend does not make a great point of that I hope he will agree that we may make this concession to those who have made concession to us on other points.
§ Admendment agreed to.