The interesting and well‐informed contributions made by Dr Pryce and Mr Ross this morning have given, in some measure, the size of the problem facing all of those concerned with…
Abstract
The interesting and well‐informed contributions made by Dr Pryce and Mr Ross this morning have given, in some measure, the size of the problem facing all of those concerned with sources of information in the years of negotiation with the European Economic Community and afterwards. Bearing in mind the wealth of published material already appearing, this conference may well provide a fitting opportunity to pause and clear our thoughts before initiating any further information publications in this field. The major problem of the vast quantity of Common Market literature appearing in a language other than English is in itself one deserving early attention. At a lecture earlier this year about the European Iron and Steel Community, warning was given of the misinterpretation liable to follow from the simple use of the phrase ‘The Common Market’. It is probable, however, that the looseness of the term in this context can be accepted with comparative safety when compared with the apparent dangers of quoting from the English version of the Treaty of Rome, to which one of this morning's speakers referred.
At the afternoon session a general discussion took place on the basis of questions submitted by members of the audience which were answered by a panel consisting of the following:
A contributor to the Financial Times recently observed that the rise of the package has temporarily outstripped the rise of the “ profession or calling ” of packaging. It was for…
Abstract
A contributor to the Financial Times recently observed that the rise of the package has temporarily outstripped the rise of the “ profession or calling ” of packaging. It was for this reason that the Institute of Packaging organised the very interesting exhibition held at Olympia during the third week of January. The packaging of foodstuffs was necessarily one of the most important sections of the Exhibition—for reasons which are not hard to grasp. Not only has the consumption of bottled beer outstripped draught sales from barrels, but a whole host of foods have moved and continue to move into the domain of packed merchandise. For the moment it will suffice to mention sugar, flour, confectionery, bread, butter, cheese, bacon, vegetables, fruit, and even (occasionally) meat and fish. It has been estimated that the grocery trade sells nearly 80 per cent of its goods in packages. For the consumer, the packaging of food promises quality, purity and freshness, and, within certain limits, full weight and measure. In self‐service retailing, of course, the package is all‐important. Not only does the appearance of the package and its label take the place of the salesman in the retail shop, but the wrapping must also be a barrier which will be a safeguard against excessive evaporation, without inducing mould growth, and against decomposition and stateness. Conditions of moisture, humidity, temperature and pressure may be critical for the preservation of foods in the best possible state. There are dangers arising not only from the effect of the packaging material on the food but also from the reverse influence of the food on the container.
The brief announcement that the Government had accepted that there should be regulations on open date marking of food, to come into effect in 1975, will come as no surprise. It is…
Abstract
The brief announcement that the Government had accepted that there should be regulations on open date marking of food, to come into effect in 1975, will come as no surprise. It is a timely reminder of what public pressure can achieve these days; how sustained advocacy and publicity by interested sectors of society—magistrates, local authorities, public health workers, consumer groups—can secure legislative changes which, in this case, run counter to trade opinions and the recommendation originally made by the Food Standards Committee that such a proposal was not practical and the existing law was an adequate protection. This was stated in the FSC Report on Food Labelling of 1964, although there was no indication of the evidence reviewed or that the subject had been considered very deeply; it was, after all, only a small fraction of the problem of food labelling control. It was also stated in this Report that in certain cases, date‐stamping of food could give to purchasers a false sense of security, “not justified by the conditions under which the food has been kept since manufacture”.
It is evident that the problem of the Constitution of Food and Drugs Authorities presents one of the chief obstacles to agreement among local authorities on the subject of local…
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It is evident that the problem of the Constitution of Food and Drugs Authorities presents one of the chief obstacles to agreement among local authorities on the subject of local government reorganisation. For over three years, representatives of three of the four chief associations of local authorities have been conferring with a view to reaching agreement on the future structure of local government and the function of local authorities. These three Associations are: the County Councils Association, the Urban District Councils Association and the Rural District Councils Association. A large measure of agreement has been secured with respect to a great variety of functions. The chief subject on which agreement was not reached was food and drugs administration. The County Councils Association's representatives took the view that this should be the primary responsibility of County Councils, which should have power to delegate to Municipal Corporations or District Councils. The Urban District Councils Association's representatives were of opinion that the Food and Drugs Act should come wholly within the sphere of Municipal Corporations and of Urban and Rural District Councils. The Association of Municipal Corporations did not take part in the conferences ; but clearly would have insisted that Food and Drugs Act responsibility should be taken away from County Councils.
The global financial crisis proved profoundly shocking for economic and political life. In the United Kingdom, media reporting of sudden insolvency in the banking sector, its…
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The global financial crisis proved profoundly shocking for economic and political life. In the United Kingdom, media reporting of sudden insolvency in the banking sector, its teetering on the edge of collapse and subsequent injection of taxpayer funds by a desperate government thrust sector leaders and negative aspects of their leadership into the public glare. This is particularly significant in light of pre-crisis reporting narratives that ignored negative attributes in favour of financial successes and dealmaking. Many sector leaders had been previously unknown, but where certain individuals had featured in prior media reports, they were often lauded for dynamism, risk-taking and ‘great man’ attributes. However, with the outbreak of a crisis and search for blame and responsibility, previously celebrated or ambiguous values and activities were surfaced for public judgement and found wanting or even dangerous to society. Whilst political and economic aspects of the crisis have since generated a great deal of research, only limited scholarship has focused on narrative understandings and myths generated around positive and negative leadership behaviours. Whilst heroes and villains have served as metaphors for human behaviour since early societies started telling stories, the abrupt nature of this crisis triggered metaphorical narratives to the fore. This chapter will consider the dual phenomena of press coverage generated around negative leadership stories and how patterns of villainy, illegitimacy, demonisation and ruined reputations contributed to shared myths of the crisis.
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When this Bill came before the House of Lords on March 30th for third reading, Lord Silkin and Lord Douglas of Barloch again voiced their opinions that, in the matter of…
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When this Bill came before the House of Lords on March 30th for third reading, Lord Silkin and Lord Douglas of Barloch again voiced their opinions that, in the matter of labelling, the Bill, even as amended, does not go far enough in the direction of giving the public information which they ought to have when chemicals and other undesirable commodities are added to food. Thus, Lord Douglas said :