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299
[1912
Butter.—The butter samples were for the most part purchased from
those dealers against whom there had been previous convictions. Forty-five
samples were tested, of which thirty-three were genuine, and twelve, or 26.6
per cent. were adulterated.
This high rate of adulteration is in some measure due to the inclusion of
samples purchased by children, and the duplicate samples necessitated in order
to make quite certain as to the final result when purchasing the official sample.
It becomes increasingly difficult to secure prosecutions against those
persons we know so well as carrying on a fraudulent trade, but during the year
one such dealer made his seventh appearance at Court, and was fined £40.
Margarine.—Of the 323 samples examined, 295 were found to have
been sold in a manner complying with the Act, and 28, or 8.66 per cent. were
sold in unstamped wrappers and were thus classed as adulterated.
Malt Vinegar, I have been not a little surprised to discover vinegar
offered for sale at such unlikely places as news and sweet shops, and as I have
received complaints that the article is frequently sold as malt vinegar, when
it is really artificial vinegar, I have, where possible, purchased samples at these
establishments. Thirty samples were tested during the year, 23 of which were
genuine, 4 were sold as wood vinegar, and 3, or 10 per cent, were adulterated.

I am,
Your obedient Servant,
TOM. L. BURRELL,
Food and Drugs Inspector.