§ 43. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in respect that small farmers and other milk producers sell their milk out of barrels and are now being ordained to use tins, which are less sanitary in summer, and insistence in the use of which causes the loss to them of their barrels, and compels them to incur the cost of reconstructing their carts, he will suspend the Order compelling them to use tins until the existing equipment of such milk producers falls to be replaced?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am advised that wooden vessels are not more sanitary in summer than the metal vessels used for milk, and that the practice of using wooden vessels for the sale of milk is not common in Scotland. The Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Order, 1925, which prohibits, from 1st January last, the use of wooden vessels for milk except in the case of buttermilk, was issued nearly two years ago, and so substantial notice has been given. I see no reason to take any action to suspend or revoke the Order on this point.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes not the Secretary of State know, as a practical farmer, that a well-scalded barrel is perfectly sanitary, and that the small farmers take the milk direct from the cow to the customer, and it is thus far fresher than the stuff sold in tins to the dairyman?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThat is another matter.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the buttermilk that comes into the city of Glasgow from the country comes in in two big wooden barrels, and does he mean to say that he is going to stop that mode of conveying buttermilk to the poor people of Glasgow?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir; on the contrary, I said that we were not altering the present method of distributing buttermilk.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENCan the right hon. Gentleman give a few years more time so that these barrels can be used up? They are very small producers and this change will be a great hardship on these small farmers.