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56
Of the samples sold for butter, which were not returned as genuine by the
Analyst, six were samples of margarine, four contained water in excess of the 16 per
cent. standard and the remainder were samples of butter containing foreign fats in
large amounts.
Legal proceedings were taken in 12 instances and were successful in 11. In one
the summons was dismissed, the person summoned being proved in court not to
have been at the time of sale the proprietor of the business. The penalties inflicted
in the cases in which convictions were obtained for the sale of adulterated butter
amounted to £33, or 9.4 per cent. of the maximum penalties to which the
defendants were liable as compared with 15.6 per cent. in 1907, 12 per cent. in 1906,
17 in 1905, 10 in 1904, 18 in 1903, and 17 in 1902. Including the costs
which amounted to £11 8s. 6d., the amounts imposed by the Magistrates averaged
£4 0s. 9d. as compared with £4 6s. 10d. in 1908, £4 6s. 7d. in 1907, £5 3s. 0d. in
1906, £7 1s. 0d. in 1905, £3 1s. 0d. in 1904, £4 10s. 0d. in 1903, and £4 10s. 0d. in
1902. In one instance the defendant had been three times previously convicted
under the Acts and was, therefore, liable to a penalty of £100. The amount of the
penalty inflicted in this case was £10 with 12s. 6d. costs.
Thirty-one samples of margarine were taken and in 26 proceedings were
instituted under Section 6 of the Margarine Act 1887 for selling margarine in a
wrapper not bearing the word " Margarine " legibly imprinted upon it as required
by law. In 25 convictions were obtained and in one the summons was withdrawn
upon payment of 2s. costs. The fines inflicted for these breaches of the Margarine
Act amounted to 4.7 per cent. of the maximum penalties to which the defendants
were liable. Including costs the amounts paid averaged £1 12s. 5d. as compared
with £1 4s. 6d. for 1908.
Of the 56 samples of coffee taken 22 were mixtures of coffee and chicory in
varying amounts, which were sold without any disclosure being made of the fact
that they were mixtures, which is contrary to the statute. These samples were
obtained from regular grocers shops and from general shops. At the former it
appears to be the practice to sell such mixtures in packages properly labelled and a
sufficient disclosure is made at the time of purchase as to the article being a
mixture. In the general shops, more especially the smaller ones, however, it does
not appear to be the practice either to make a disclosure or use a wrapper
containing any notice to the effect that the article is sold as a mixture.
Of the 19 samples of cocoa two were adulterated. One contained 40 per cent.
of sugar and 25 per cent. of starch, which had been added, and the other 5 per cent.
of foreign starch. In the case of the former proceedings were taken and the vendor
was fined £2.
Of the 13 samples of golden syrup three were adulterated with glucoseproceedings
were taken against the vendors, but unsuccessfully. In two instances