local authority, or may be modified in the direction of greater stringency subject to approval by the Minister. Thus for example Copenhagen has prescribed regulations which are stricter than the Model Regulations, and enable the Health Authorities to exercise close control over the milk supply to the city. Any regulations which may be made by a local authority must not be less stringent in any particular than the general decree applicable to the whole country. We were informed at the National Board of Health that approximately 75 per cent. of all the local authorities in the country had made regulations controlling the milk supply of their district. 23. There are, then, two systems of milk control in force in Denmark. The first of these is concerned only with milk and cream intended for consumption in Denmark, and the second applies to all milk intended for conversion into dairy products such as condensed milk, butter and cheese. The first system is based on a general national decree, on the law dealing with contagious diseases of animals and on special regulations which can be made by any local authority to control its own supply. These latter regulations and their administration do not apply to milk intended for manufacture into condensed milk, butter and cheese, whether for home consumption or export. Farms supplying a local authority which has regulations in force must be registered by the local authority and come under its control, and if a creamery which makes butter, and also delivers milk to consumers in the district, wishes to use milk from a non-registered farm for butter making such milk must be kept separate from the milk intended for consumption as liquid milk. 24. The second system of control like the first system is based on the general national decree and the law dealing with contagious diseases of animals, but here the similarity ends. Milk intended for conversion into condensed milk is then subject to the special regulations with the amendments in draft already referred to which deal with this article, and not to the regulations made by Local Authorities to control their own supply of raw milk. According to the law, any indurated swellings in the udder which may cause suspicion of being tuberculous must be reported by the farmer, and the cow is then examined by a veterinary officer. Where necessary, samples of milk are taken and sent to the Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture for examination by inoculation into guinea-pigs. About 4,000 samples sent in by veterinary surgeons each year are dealt with in this way. Farmers may also have their herds tested with tuberculin free of charge, but if this is done the farmer is compelled to segregate all reactors. 25. In addition the new draft condensed milk regulations when they come into force will make provision in regard to other diseases of the cow which may affect the milk. It was intended that these regulations should already have been in force, but we gathered that their operation had been suspended whilst the question as to the most satisfactory method of administering them was considered. There are four inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture with assistants whose duty is to visit creameries and factories and examine products with respect to quality. We were informed that one scheme at present under consideration is to utilise these inspectors for taking samples of milk on arrival at creameries and condenseries; these samples would be sent for examination to the Laboratory of the Ministry and if unsatisfactory a veterinary surgeon would visit the farm to make further investigations and arrange for the appropriate measures to be taken. 26. There are, however, in this scheme of control no specific provisions for ensuring the observance of proper methods of milking, cleanliness of cows, of milking utensils and of surroundings such as are required in the Local Authorities' Regulations and in our Milk and Dairies Order, although a requirement in the draft decree that dirty milk shall not be sent to a condensery may perhaps be regarded as an indirect way of ensuring that adequate precautions in the way of cleanliness and proper methods of milking shall be taken. Nor are there any provisions in regard to structural requirements in cowsheds. We have already remarked upon the satisfactory structure of cowsheds generally in Denmark so that provisions in regulations dealing with this matter are not so necessary as in England where the average cowshed is not so satisfactory. The remarks which we made on this subject in our report on Nederland apply with equal force to Denmark. 27. It is not easy to compare or assess the relative values of a dual system of control such as exists in Denmark and the single control system in force in Nederland and in this country. It seems clear that the regulations of local authorities for the control of the purity of their own supply of milk make possible a more thorough control in the way of inspection of individual producers and their methods than the laws and regulations affecting milk production for butter making and condensing, and enable defects such as diseases in cows and uncleanliness to be discovered directly by inspection whereas under the less highly developed system of control for milk intended for manufacturing purposes reliance would have to be placed on detection of dirty milk on delivery at the creameries and condenseries. Naturally, however, the condenseries require milk as clean as they can get it, and keep a fairly good check from this standpoint on the milk which they receive. 28. Notwithstanding the differences which exist between milk regulations in this country and in Denmark as they affect milk intended for condensing purposes we do not think that there is any significant difference between the purity of the average milk in England and that delivered to condenseries in Denmark. CONCLUSIONS. 29. Our views as to the conditions under which milk is produced in Denmark are similar to those which we expressed in regard to Nederland in the conclusion of our report on that country, with the exception that Danish cowsheds appear to be even superior to the average Dutch cowshed. 30. In regard to Government Regulations and control of the purity, cleanliness and healthfulness of the milk differences exist between the control which may be exercised in regard to milk intended for human consumption as such and milk intended for manufacture into milk products, butter, condensed milk and cheese. So far as regulations are concerned milk intended for both purposes is subject to certain minimum requirements in common and in addition milk intended for human consumption may be subject to regulations very similar to those in our Milk and Dairies Order. Milk intended for conversion into condensed milk is exempt from these regulations, but is or is about to be subject to other regulations of a less specific and detailed character, which, however, may if properly administered be as effective ultimately in attaining the same end. This question of administration is at present occupying the attention of the central authority. 31. Notwithstanding the relative paucity of regulations* dealing with milk intended for manufacturing purposes in Denmark we do not think that the milk delivered at condenseries in Denmark differs in any notable respect from the average milk produced in England. Printed under the authority of HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, by Wyman & Sons, Limited, Fetter Lane, London, E.C. 4. 1661. Wt. 18603-3894. 1,250 1/28. Wy. & S., Ltd. ap. 2. pensers MON DROIT MINES DEPARTMENT UPHEAVAL OF FLOOR AT THE PENDLETON COLLIERY, LANCASHIRE REPORT Of the Committee appointed to Investigate the Causes and Circumstances of the Accident which occurred at Pendleton Colliery, Lancashire, on the 4th November, 1925, and to suggest means of preventing such accidents. Presented to Parliament by LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh; York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; 15, Donegall Square West, Belfast; 1927. Price 1s. net. Cmd. 2946 |