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9
Foods and
Drugs.
Samples taken.
The samples of Food taken, and the operations under the Food
and Drugs Acts, do not call for special mention beyond the fact that
the total number of samples taken amounted to 656.
This is a larger number of samples than has hitherto been taken
in any one year previously.
Summonses,
Foods and
Drugs Acts.
Sixty-one summonses were issued, and the fines and costs
recovered amounted to ^170 2s. od.
Legal
Technicalities
Having regard to the many technicalities and subtle loopholes of
the Adulteration Acts, by means of which all persons who are
sufficiently " tricky " can escape, and which is fast reducing the whole
procedure to a solemn farce, the year's proceedings in this respect will,
I venture to suggest, be considered quite as satisfactory as could be
expected.
Food Inspection
in Markets.
Whilst on the subject of Food it may be added here that the
excellent results of the daily market inspections by Mr. Rowsell have
continued.
During the year four prosecutions were taken. Two of the
defendants, who were aliens, absconded on the service of summonses.
The other two were fined £10 and £12 respectively.
Details ot
General Work
Full details of all the work performed are dealt with in the
Appendices which follow further on, but special mention may, I think,
be made of the list of sanitary improvements effected.
As in previous years, an enormous amount of drainage amendment
(or new drainage) has been accomplished, and is included in this
total.
Combined
Drainage
Decrease in
Cost.
I am happy to be able to add that this very important part of your
sanitary work carried out by Mr. Jones is now getting more closely upto-date,
and I have every confidence that your combined drainage bill
will now commence to decrease, and your staff be released from trouble
in this direction, and will be able to devote their attention more fully to
other matters in connection with the upkeep of your district.