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19
the decreased number of offences detected, and whilst in one sense
it is strictly accurate to say these good results are entirely due to
the energy and vigilance of your Sanitary Inspectors, there is quite
another side of the case.
As mentioned above, the various attempts at what is euphemiously
termed "amending" the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts has
resulted in something very like chaos so far as actual administration
is concerned. What with warranty defences, differences of opinion
as to what constitutes a warranty or only an invoice, exhibition of
notices, and various other forms of what may be termed contracting
out and avoiding the Acts, it becomes increasingly difficult to
predict with any certainty what is likely to be the result of
proceedings taken in any given case.
The only thing absolutely certain is, that every single provision
that has been introduced, with a view of protecting the honest shop
keeper, has been taken advantage of by less scrupulous dealers and
elaborated into a series of legal loopholes for their especial benefit.
This form of protection is now so perfect that the intention of the
Acts has been well nigh inverted, and after a little experience, say
the second appearance at the Court, it is a very poor scholar who
does not learn how to take full advantage of the position and trade
on it with impunity. All this does not, of course, prevent our public
men in their superabundant lack of knowledge from dilating on the
excellent measures they have taken to protect the people's food
from adulteration and to safeguard their interests in this direction.
One can only regret that the legislature in its wisdom, iind after so
many attempts, has not been able to devise something less intricate,
less costly, and more likely to be useful to the community. It is
significant that out of 45 offences detected nearly half are in
connection with milk.
On the publication of former Reports some dairymen have
affected to be very indignant at what they have been pleased to
term the harsh manner in which their trade has been dealt with.
W ith 20 cases of adulterated milk and S of butter out of a total of