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18o
mention to the necessity for an amendment of the law
(Section 25 of the 1875 Act, and Section 20 of the 1899
Act), with a view to making the retailer liable for the
penalties imposed by the Acts in all cases of adulteration,
leaving such retailer to his remedy at Common Law against
the person from whom he obtained his supply of milk.
Local authorities are in a difficult and anomalous position
in regard to warranties (defences) and the law needs simplifying.
Sale of "Overweight."
A letter (dated June 16th), was received during 1910
from the Camberwell Borough Council, stating that a conviction
against a trader had been obtained for selling "overweight"
to the prejudice of the purchaser, and that notices
had been exhibited throughout the Borough of Camberwell
drawing attention to the conviction, and the fact that
"over-weight," given with butter, may be margarine. The
Lambeth Borough Council decided to take no action in the
matter, there being no evidence that a similar practice
obtained to any great extent in Lambeth Borough.
Penalties under the Sale of Food and Drugs
Acts.
During 1910 (September), the Council decided to take
no action in connection with a suggestion of the St. Mary-Leone Borough Council that, after 3 convictions in respect
of offences against the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts within
the period of 2 years, the Magistrate should be empowered
to order the name of the offender to be struck off the
Register of Purveyors of Milk, etc., The Acts, as at present
drafted, give ample powers as to penalties and fines
against offenders, if the Magistrate would only inflict the
maximum.