§ Major COLFOXasked the Minister of Food if his attention has been called to the large amount of food which has had to be destroyed at Dorchester in the last few months owing to the inefficiency of the transport service; and can he give an assurance that steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence of this waste?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe Food Controller's attention has been drawn particularly to the amount of beef condemned in Dorchester between 14th August and the present time. In every case it is found that the meat condemned has been voluntarily surrendered to the sanitary authorities by the slaughterhouse officer. This meat was derived from fourth grade beasts affected by tuberculosis, the slaughter of which from the surrounding dairy district is centralised at Dorchester. The Medical Officer of Health for Dorchester is of opinion that the procedure adopted is entirely in the interest of the public, inasmuch as meat from tuberculous animals is thereby prevented from passing into consumption. The Department have no evidence which would lead them to believe that inefficiency of the transport service has caused food to be destroyed at Dorchester.