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102
of the Departmental Committee on Butter Regulations, and a copy
of the communication from the Council on the subject had been
sent to the Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee had under consideration the question of the
discrepancy which had occurred in the analysis of a sample of butter
by the Borough Analyst and the Analysts at Somerset House respectively.
The Committee directed that in future, portions of
samples analysed be preserved in order that an independent analysis
may be made in the event of dispute.
The Committee adopted a new sample bottle in order that no
question of escape of moisture could arise.
The Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth had
under consideration the penalties imposed in certain cases under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and resolved to call the attention
of the Home Secretary to the inadequacy of the fines inflicted in
comparison with the offence and the cost to the Council of procuring
the sample, and the analysis.
The Committee concurred with the Wandsworth Borough
Council that the tines are often quite inadequate, and recommended
to the Council to support the Wandsworth Borough Council in the
representation, citing cases in point.
The Battersea Borough Council wrote respecting the conflicting
decisions sometimes given by Stipendiary Magistrates, under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, quite against the weight of evidence,
and suggested that a special tribunal should be appointed to try
disputed cases under the Acts, so qualified as to be able to understand
and examine the evidence brought before it.
The Battersea Council also drew attention to the system of
analysis of milk adopted at Somerset House, viz., the "Maceration
process, which they stated is almost universally condemned as antiquated
ami incorrect.