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221
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
220 samples of milk were procured during the early morning'
on week days and several samples were also taken from wholesale
ffirms when delivering milk to retailers between the hours of 3
a.m. and 5 a.m.
In five cases proceedings were taken against vendors for selling
milk from receptacles on which their name and address was
not conspicuously inscribed, and in each case a penalty was inflicted.
In four cases proceedings were taken against vendors for wilful
obstruction, and for refusing to sell, the penalties inflicted
being £.2 and costs, £3 and costs, £2 and costs or 21 days
imprisonment, £10 and costs or one month's imprisonment.
In five cases summonses were dismissed owing to the defendant
pleading the warranty clause. As I have repeatedly mentioned
in my Reports this method of defence is a very serious drawback
to the effective working of the Acts, and every effort should be
made by those in authority to procure the abolition or amendment
of this clause.
The Inspector has on many occasions during the year reported
that it is a most difficult matter to deal with the itinerant
vendor of separated milk under the existing law, and while this
defect continues the number of this class of vendor will tend to
increase. They do not, however, all escape justice, for during the
year no less than eight of this class of vendor were convicted, the
fines ranging from £1 to £10 and costs, and in two cases the
defendants were sent to prison.
The following Table shows the number of milk vendors who
are not actually ratepayers in this Borough, but who carry on
trade in various parts of the Borough.
The Table also shows the number of samples taken, the
number adulterated, as well as the number and percentage of
prosecutions.