View report page

53
Fire at
McMurray's
Royal
Paper Mills.
70.—On the 17th January last a serious fire took place at
McMurray's Royal Paper Mills, Garratt Lane, Wandsworth,
whereby a large number of men, women and
boys were thrown out of employment. The Mayor
convened a public Meeting for the 26th January to consider the
desirability of raising a fund for the assistance of these persons.
At the public meeting an influential Committee was appointed for
this object and for the distribution of the fund. Alderman Riicker
was elected Treasurer of the Fund and Councillor A. J. Littlechild,
Hon. Secretary to the Committee. The total sum raised was
£787:9:11. Applications for assistance are considered by a SubCommittee
weekly. The number of persons relieved has varied
from 104 to 29 per week. It is anticipated that the fund will allow
of relief being granted until the end of October.
Water in
Butter.
71.—Representations were made by the Council in 1901 to the
Board of Agriculture with the view of regulations
being made dealing with butter containing an excess
of moisture, and the following regulation has been made under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899:—
"That where the proportion of water in a sample of
"butter exceeds 16 per cent. it shall be presumed for the pur"poses
of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, until the contrary
"is proved, that the butter is not genuine by reason of the
"excessive amount of water therein.
Colouring
matter and
preservatives
in food.
72.—Representations have been made to the Local Government
Board with the view of legislation being promoted
to give effect to the recommendations of the
Departmental Committee appointed to enquire into
the use of preservatives and colouring matters in the preservation
and colouring of food. The recommendations of the Committee
were as follows:—
(a) That the use of formaldehyde or formalin, or preparations
thereof, in foods or drinks be absolutely prohibited, and that salicylic
acid be not used in a greater proportion than I grain per pint in liquid
food and I grain per pound in solid food. Its presence in all cases to be
declared.
(b) That tire use of any preservative or colouring matter whatever
in milk offered for sale in the United Kingdom be constituted an offence
tinder the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts,