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"This latter communication is merely an amplification
"of a summary of Section 3, to which they had
"previously referred in their circular marked A82/c,
"received on the 4th December last, and the Board
"have again failed to discuss Section 4, which, in the
"views of many, is considered one of the most important
"provisions of the whole Act,
"This is the more to be regretted, since the Sale of Food
"and Drugs Act, 1899, after years of tedious cousidera"tion,
was avowedly passed by both Houses of
"Parliament for the advantage of English agri"culturists
in general, and dairy farmers in particular.
"The interests of those engaged in these industries
"and the public would be better served, if the Board of
"Agriculture directed their energies to more promptly
"availing themselves of the opportunity the Legislature
"has placed in their hands, and forthwith settle a
"question of so essential importance as that of formu"lating
regulations for analysis and standards of purity
"in milk, cream, butter and cheese, instead of issuing a
"series of extracts from an Act with which the
"officials of Local Authorities should certainly by this
"time be well acquainted.
"I am not unmindful of the fact that the power to
"issue such regulations is permissive, but it does not
"require much foresight to prophesy that until the
"Board in question takes the initiative, the benefit to
"both farmers and the public by the new Statute will
"be more apparent than real.
"(Signed) Wm. SEDGWICK SAUNDERS.
"23rd January, 1900."