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135
The result of the year's work is that there were
twelve convictions during the year, the total amount
of the fines inflicted being £27 16s., and of costs,
£5 19s. In one case the Vestry failed to secure a
conviction, and was mulcted in costs to the amount of
£l 1s. Leaving out cases Nos. 4 and 12, the average
fine for the remainder was 14s. 2d., and the average
costs, 7s. l0d.
The market values of the adulterants indicate
roughly the profits derived from adulteration: thus
very fair butter can be got wholesale for l0d.
per lb., whilst margarine varies from 2½ to 4d.; coffee
averages l/4d. per lb., chicory 4d.; milk, at the
dearest retail price, 5d. per quart, water 0d. In
each case the adulterated article is sold to the consumer
for the price of the genuine.
From the preceding notes it will be seen that the
illegal profits to be obtained by adulteration are very
great. A balance sheet giving the fines and costs paid
by defendants on the credit side, and the expenses incurred
by the Vestry on the debit side, would show a
very considerable deficit. The ratio of fines and costs
to profits derived by adulteration is absurdly small, but
in certain of the cases some loss of custom follows conviction.
Such loss, however, has no deterrent effect in
very many instances, as the same defendant appears time
after time in the Courts. There is no power to commit
to gaol, as there is for cases of unsound food, but until
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