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48
WARRANTIES.—SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS.
Towards the end of 1918, the late Medical Officer again reported
to the Public Health Committee the result of prosecutions for
adulterations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and that these
results had been frequently unfavourable to the Council, many
summonses having been dismissed owing to the production of a
warranty by the defendants at the hearing of the summons; also
that this form of defence was becoming so popular and successful,
especially with milk vendors, that the Council could not be certain
of obtaining a conviction in any particular prosecution for
adulteration of milk or butter.
Upon the recommendation of the Public Health Committee the
Council resolved—
"1. That the Borough Council press upon the Local
Government Board, the Board of Agriculture and the Food
Controller, the necessity for the repeal of the warranty clauses
in the Food and Drugs Acts.
2. That the Borough Council ask the Metropolitan
Borough Councils to support the action of the Hackney
Borough Council.
3. That a copy of the report of the Medical Officer of
Health be forwarded to the Local Government Board, the
Board of Agriculture, the Food Controller and to each of the
Metropolitan Borough Councils."
(For report on this subject, see Appendix, page 54.)