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were taken, compared with 1,198 in 1915 and 1,186 in 1914. Of
these 11.1 per cent. were found adulterated, compared with 7.4
per cent, in the previous year and 11.6 per cent. in 1914.
As the Government had expressed a desire that Local
Authorities should exercise strict economy, we decided, in view
of this, and the fact that the percentage of adulteration had fallen
so much during 1915, to reduce the number of samples analysed
from 1,200 per annum to 1,000.
Unfortunately, however, the low percentage of adulteration
shown in 1915 was not maintained in 1916, so it was thought desirable
to return to our original figure when the estimates came
to be revised in January, 1917. For instance, the percentage of
adulteration went from 9.8 in 1915 to 15.8 in 1916. The same
happened with the butter. It is difficult to explain the difference,
but it is probably due to the higher food price ruling in 1916 than
in 1915, which make the temptation to adulterate greater.
Food Inspectors.
The figures recording the work of the food inspectors are
not so high as last year, but the decrease is owing to the supervision
of large Government contracts and shortage of clerical
labour, necessitating them doing rather more office work than
usual, etc.