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41
The samples taken included 521 of milk, 109 of butter, 21 margarine, 3 arrowroot,
1 brawn,. 3 bread and butter, 9 cheese, 11 coffee, 8 mustard, 9 cocoa,
4 dripping, 16 lard, 2 malt vinegar, 1 non-alcoholic ginger wine, 3 pickles,
2 olive oil, 9 sausage, 1 skimmed milk, 2 table jelly, 7 pepper, 6 ground rice,
5 ground ginger, 4 camphorated oil, 3 sago, 3 tapioca, 1 lime juice cordial,
1 pork pie, 1 borax, 1 honey and 1 of boric acid.

In 47 of the samples water was certified to have been added; in 12 the
amount was more and in 35 it was less than 5 per cent., taking the standard of the
Board of Agriculture. In 30 the samples showed deficiencies in milk fat; in 11
the deficiency was more, and in 19 it was less than 5 per cent. In 10 instances both
fat had been abstracted and water added. Four of the samples contained traces of
artificial colouring matter. None showed the presence of preservatives.
Legal proceedings were instituted in 28 or 24'7 per cent, of the cases in which
the samples of milk were below standard, and in 15 of these convictions were
obtained. In ten instances the summonses were dismissed, warx-anties being
proved, one summons was adjourned sine die, and in two cases the summonses
were dismissed, the defendants being cautioned. There were two summonses for
refusal to serve, in one of which a fine of £2 was inflicted, and in the other a fine
5s. with 12s. 6d. costs. No legal proceedings were considered advisable as regards
the rest of the samples below standard. In three instances letters of caution
were sent to the vendors. The percentage of the adulterated samples in
which it was not thought advisable to prosecute was 75, which is again above
the average.