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69
The amount of the superior quality milk is a little less than in 1913,
being two points lower in the South, while in the North it was a little
better. Medium quality was again higher, while poor quality milk
showed a little improvement in the North. The amount of "legal
adulteration" was only 7.04 per cent, and in the South was only 4.75.
Thirty.four prosecutions were taken with regard to adulteration—
18 for fat abstracted, 11 for added water, 5 for both fat abstracted and
added water. Cautions were given to sellers whose milk contained less
than 5 per cent, of added water, or had less than 5 per cent, of fat
abstracted. Warranties were set up as a defence in 15 instances,
and were successful in 14; 2 cases were withdrawn, it being proved
that employes in eacli case had tampered with the milk; both were
convicted. (See 88 N. and 875 N. infra.) One vendor who is a persistent
offender was fined £30 with the alternative of 60 days' imprisonment
with hard labour. The fine was paid.
Sunday Sam.plcs.—111 of the samples of milk were taken on
Sundays during the year; 8 (7'6 per cent.) were found to be
adulterated. (See lists of Prosecutions Nos. 25 N., 26 N., 517 N.,
723 N., 725 N., 904 N. and 909 N.) Since Sunday sampling was
instituted the number of adulterated samples has fallen to less than
half what it was at first.
Samples taken in course of Delivery—
(a) At Railway Stations.—50 samples of milk were taken on arrival
at Victoria and Charing Cross Railway Stations. Eleven were reported
of good quality, 21 fair, 16 poor and 2 adulterated:—Fat abstracted,
15 and 4 per cent. Regarding the two samples, it was ascertained that
the name on the churns was not the name of the consignors, and that
all they did in the matter was to lend churns and labels. The consignees
said this was merely an occasional purchase and that there was
no contract with the senders, whose name was not disclosed. Further
there was no warranty on the churns, and the consignees did not state
in their letter whether they intended to purchase pure milk.
The solicitors, considering the facts before them, were of opinion
that proceedings could not be instituted, and no further action was
taken.
(b) On Delivery at Shops, &c.—65 samples of milk were taken as it
was being delivered by wholesale firms to retail customers, including
shops, hotels and hospitals. Of these samples, 24 were good, 27 fair,
12 poor, and 2 adulterated (10 and 5 per cent, fat abstracted). These
samples were taken in consequence of previous samples being found
below the limit (including cases where a warranty defence was set up).