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169
commission of fraud, the Local Authority might in the first instance
call the attention of the vendor to the adverse report of the analyst
and afford him an opportunity of submitting any explanation he
might desire to offer on the subject. The Board further expressed
the opinion that if the explanation were one which the Local
Authority felt able to accept, they might, in the exercise of their
discretion, refrain from the institution of proceedings, or withdraw
any summons which it might have been necessary to take out in
order to avoid the failure of proceedings, at the same time making
arrangements for the taking of further samples of the milk supplied,
in order that a satisfactory conclusion as to its character might be
arrived at.
The experience of the past three years has confirmed the propriety
of the views expressed by the Board on the subject, and
they would be glad to learn that your Local Authority have made
arrangements to proceed on the lines suggested, and if not, that
the matter will be further considered at an early date.
I am also to say that the Board think it very desirable that
farmers, dairymen and all other cowkeepers should have samples
of the milk of their cows tested from time to time, so that they
may be able to watch the seasonal and other variations in the
quantity of milk-fat contained in the milk, and by modifications
in the feeding, housing, or time of milking, and if necessary by
the disposal of animals giving milk of an exceptionally poor
character, keep the quality of their mlik at a satisfactory level.
The Board have ascertained that with the object of assisting
farmers thus to acquaint themselves with the character of their
milk the various Agricultural Colleges and Agricultural Departments
of University Colleges, etc., are willing to determine for a
fee of sixpence the percentage of milk-fat in any sample of milk
which may be sent to them from the Counties with which they