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(6) Separated milk (22—18 genuine, 4 adulterated), as follows :
Two (no proceedings) ; 10.10, 11.5 per cent, extraneous
water, and fine and costs, £2 and 12s. 6d. costs)
in respect of one sample ; in the other two defendants
absconded.
Of the total number of milk samples taken during the year
under review, 561 were taken on week-days and 132 on Sundays.
Samples were taken on 22 Sundays in the year. Of the 561 weekday
samples, 58 (i.e., 10.3 per cent.) were adulterated, while out
of the 132 samples taken on Sundays, 16 (i.e., 12.1 per cent.) were
adulterated.
During the year 1908 samples were taken during the month of
August. It had not been the practice, prior to 1906, to take
samples during that month, but, in view of the fact that at that
period of the year, owing to the heat of the weather, the inducement
to dishonest and unscrupulous milk vendors to add preservatives
(boric acid, formaldehydes, etc.) is considerable, the Committee
decided that in future samples were to be taken during
August ; and this, I am of opinion, has been followed by satisfactory
results.
The following cases will show the need that exists for the
strict supervision of milk purveyors of a certain class, especially
of those who from previous experience require to be watched.
The first was that in which a man had a milk round in one of
the poorer parts of the Borough. Prior to 1908, this man had no
less than seven convictions recorded against him, the fines inflicted
on him varying from 2s. 6d. to £10. In January, 1908, he was
under observation by the Inspector, who saw him enter a publichouse
in Battersea Park Road, and while the barman was serving
him, he was seen to take a water jug from the counter and pour
its contents into a milk can he had taken in with him. He then
returned to his barrow, which he had left outside. Later he was
seen manipulating some small cans, afterwards starting on his
round. He was followed by the Inspector, who saw him about to
place a can on the doorstep of a house in the neighbourhood.
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