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"(13) That the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland
"should have power to take proceedings under the Merchandise Marks Act.
"(14) That nothing shall be sold under the name of butter which contains more
"than 16 per cent. of moisture.
"(15) That substances other than butter (not being margarine) containing butter
"fat should be sold, with a limit of 24 per cent. of moisture, under a name approved
"by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries; provided that such name should not
"be calculated to prejudice the sale of the article.
"(16) That such substances when sold by retail should be delivered to the
"purchaser in a wrapper approved by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries,
"containing a description of the nature, substance and quality of the article; and
"as far as possible under the same conditions as apply to the sale of margarine.
"(17) That the provisions of the Margarine Act of 1887 as amended by the Sale
"of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, should apply to all such substances.
"(18) Inspectors acting under the special direction of the local authority
"should have power to enter butter factories, to inspect any process, and to take
"samples.
"(19) That butter having been treated by any process shall not be allowed to
"be replaced in the original packages."
COFFEE.
Twenty.eight samples of coffee were taken, of which 2, or 7.1 per cent.,
were adulterated.
One prosecution resulted, and the vendor, who, when asked for coffee had
sold a mixture of coffee and chicory containing 20 per cent., or one.fifth of
the latter, was fined 10s. and 17s. 6d. expenses.
I had occasion last year to point out that it was most discreditable that the
proportion of adulterated samples of coffee in the City was as high as 13.9
per cent. It will be noted there is a considerable reduction in the percentage
discovered daring 1906, when it fell to 7.1 per cent.; but it is not unlikely
to reach a higher figure in the future if it costs a dishonest dealer only
1l. 7s. 6d. for indulging in this fraud at the expense of the citizens.