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1913]
292
were adopted in 1892, when 17.7 per cent. of the articles examined were found
to be sophisticated, were applied to last year, there would have been a much
lower percentage than 9.3 which were detected.
Informal sampling is now very largely practised, and as these samples are not
counted in the return for the year, but only the samples taken officially, the
percentage appears to be higher than it really is. By private sampling one is
enabled to accomplish two things: first, the fair and honest tradesman is not
worried during his business hours by Inspectors carrying out their duties
under the Act; and, secondly, it enables the Inspector to come down on those
tradesman who are sophisticating the articles which they sell. It has also shown
that the adulteration of milk and the substitution of margarine for butter are
confined to a small and limited circle of dealers, some of whom live entirely on
fraud, while the great bulk of the tradesmen in the borough are straightforward,
upright, honest people. It is on the former class, therefore, that the
Inspector naturally concentrates his efforts, and it is gratifying to know that
in this he has been very successful. This is well shown in the Table at the
end of his report, which is given on page 322.
Informal sampling has been very successful, especially in the case of milk,
because the Inspector can make his arrangements with his agent to buy a
number of samples at milkshops or from milkmen on their rounds, and on
their receipt at the Town Hall to quickly examine them by means of a
Gerber Rotary Machine; and afterwards, in the case of adulterated samples, to
purchase official samples from the same people before they had sold out their
morning or afternoon supplies, as the case may be.
Informal sampling has enabled the Inspector to obtain 1,883 samples
during last year, as contrasted with 1,213 in 1907, the year before he
commenced this work, which is an increase of 64 per cent. The number of
prosecutions also rose from 53 to 82, or 65 per cent., and the penalties increased
from £106 18s. 6d. to £314 19s. 6d., or 194 per cent.* Such figures
as these are encouraging, and show that apart from unmasking fraudulent
dealers, the work of this branch of the public health department very much
more than recoups the Council for its expense.
•The actual amount of the penalties and costs since 1908 to 1913 (inclusive) has been £1,554 13s. 7d.