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243
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
report to the Public Health Committee in order to give publicity to
this fraudulent practice which is undoubtedly on the increase.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
ON ITINERANT BUTTER VENDORS.
" I have to report that a considerable amount of the time of
the Inspector has been taken up in dealing with itinerant butter
vendors, who, although residing outside, yet trade in the Borough.
" These vendors (four to six in number, with pony and cart),
come into various parts of the Borough and go from house to house
soliciting orders, and when they have completed a certain district
they move off to another.
" These men are known as the " canvassers," and in the course
of their house-to-house calls manage to get some customers, the
customers being passed on to a person who groups them together
and forms a ' round.'
" When this vendor finds that the ' so-called butter ' is giving
satisfaction to his customers, he asks for recommendations to their
friends.
''One lady who kindly assisted the Inspector in catching one
of these vendors told him that she had recommended the man to
no less than six or more of her friends and that she had been
recommended to him herself.
'Tn may opinion a great deal of good will result in giving
general publicity to this system of fraud, at the same time requesting
the public to give prompt information regarding these vendors.
" There is no doubt that by a system of registration these
fraudulent traders could be kept in check, but at present no system
exists.
" Generally these vendors have no fixed abode, thus making
process under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts very difficult, and for
this reason several Authorities have found it more expeditious to
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