View report page

The total number of houses inspected by the Medical
Officer of Health during 1902 was 56, but in 28 instances the
certificates were refused, owing to the existence of sanitary
defects.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
Table XXVI. shows the number of samples taken under
the above Acts during the year, and the number found to be
adulterated. Proceedings were taken in sixty-five instances,
and fines amounting, with costs, to £111 2s. were imposed.
The details of proceedings are appended to this report.
Since the beginning of this year a change has been made
in the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
Formerly it was the practice for the eight district inspectors
to take samples in turn, but from the experience of some other
districts it was thought that better results could be obtained if
these duties were entrusted to one or two inspectors specially
selected to devote attention to the task of tracking out the
adulterating traders. Since January the work of taking
samples has been performed by Inspectors Chuter and Herrin,
and the change in administration has been so far successful.
The percentage of adulterated samples has materially increased,
and convictions have been secured against some offenders who
had long been suspected, but who had hitherto successfully
evaded the law.