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of 10s. 6d. per sample, a minimum of £382 for 14 samples per week,
and there would be an occasional extra guinea for attendance at
the Police Court. In addition to this £382 there should be a
standing fee of a guinea per sample for the analysis of coal, water
softening composition, boiler coverings, paints, concretes, water,
rag flock, lubricating oils, bitumens, carbons for arc lamps, and
disinfectants. So far as the bacteriological samples are concerned,
at the commencement of the scheme matters should be left as they
are as stated above, as to carry out this work properly the bacteriologist
should be on duty constantly, this being the practice at the
Lister Institute.
(b) On the other hand an advertisement could be issued for a public
analyst whose appointment would be sanctioned by the Local
Government Board, asking for the services of a properly qualified
public analyst who would fit up his own laboratory in or near the
Borough and who would undertake the analysis of a minimum of
728 samples per annum under the Food and Drugs Acts and the
Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations, 1912, at 12s. 6d.
per sample, the minimum total cost being £455, with extras as
mentioned above under scheme (a).
Prima facie it would appear that unless 1,000 to 2,000 samples were
taken every year a local authority would not save money by appointing
a whole time analyst and establishing a laboratory.
The Committee reported to the Council that they had for a long time
felt that the number of samples taken for analysis is inadequate, and
are of opinion the number should be increased from 7 to 14 samples per
week. This would increase the cost to the Council, in respect of payments
to the Analyst, from £233 to £369 per annum if the period of service of
the present Analyst be extended from year to year.
If a new Public Analyst be appointed, the cost, under either of the
alternative schemes submitted, would not be less than £500 per annum,
with the addition of £120 per annum payable to the retiring Analyst, a
total of £620 per annum.
Under all the circumstances the Committee recommended the
Council that Mr. Young's period of service as Public Analyst should be
extended, and that the number of samples taken for analysis, under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, be increased to a number not exceeding
728 samples a year.
Sale of Food and Drugs Bill.
A Bill to consolidate with amendments the Sale of Food and Drugs
Acts, 1875 to 1899, the Margarine Act, 1887, and the Butter and Margarine
Act, 1907.