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178
out in this case. The defendant was proprietor of one of the
best dairy businesses in the Borough. Some months previously
this man had a sample of milk taken and it was found
to be deficient in fat to a small extent. He addressed a letter
to the Health Committee, pointing out that he had been in the
Borough for very many years, and that he had never been
brought up on a charge before, and suggesting that the milk
must have been tampered with in transit. The Committee, on
consideration, agreed to accept his statement, and ordered
that no proceedings were to be taken. The Food Inspector
had suspicions as to the quality of the articles sold in the shop,
although milk sampled on the rounds was invariably found to
be within the limits allowed by the Board of Agriculture and
Fisheries. He laid his plans accordingly, and, with the aid of
an agent, he obtained a sample each of milk and butter. The
former was found on analysis to be deficient in fat and
badly adulterated with water, and the latter was simply
margarine. Both samples were served by a girl who was said
to act as servant to the manager's family, who lived on the
premises. The Inspector received information that this would
be put forward as an excuse, and that the girl had no authority
to serve in the shop. A week later, by the aid of a different
agent, the Inspector again obtained two samples of butter, at
1s. 2d. and 1s. per pound respectively. Both samples on this
occasion were served by the manager's wife, who constantly
serves in the shop, and were also found on analysis to be
margarine.
The first two cases came on for hearing on the 25th June,
and a fine of £2 and 14s. 6d. costs in respect of the butter
sample, and 20s. and 14s. 6d. costs for the milk sample, were
imposed. The two latter cases were heard a fortnight later,
and notwithstanding that the circumstances associated with
the former convictions were mentioned to the magistrate, the
defendant was only fined £2 and 14s. 6d. costs in respect of
each sample.
During 1907 6 cases of adulteration with chemical preservatives
were reported by the Analyst, boric acid being the