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145
Special attention has been paid, as in the past seven years, to the character
of butter supplied when slices of bread and butter have been asked for at
coffee-houses, and it is regrettable that the following table shows that there is
an increase of this despicable form of fraud since the last year. It is a curious
fact that out of the five instances of margarine substitution three were perpetrated
by persons newly established in business in the City. The percentages
of margarine present in the samples varied from 90 per cent. to 100 per cent.
Percentage
Samples Cases of Substituted
Date. taken. Substitution. Samples.
1903 71 19 26.7
1904 101 12 11.8
1905 16 Nil. Nil.
1906 87 12 13.8
1907 184 8 4.3
1908 112 1 0.9
1909 115 1 0.9
1910 110 5 4.5
Proceedings were taken against the vendors of these samples in four
instances, and fines of £l and 17s. 6d. expenses, £2 and 17s. 6d., and £5 and
17s. 6d. were inflicted, and in one case the defendant was ordered to pay the
expenses amounting to 17s. 6d.
One vendor was cautioned.
One sample of butter purchased at a provision shop was found on analysis
to contain 70 per cent. of margarine; the vendor in this case was summoned,
and pleaded in extenuation a new assistant had served the article, and the
Magistrate ordered him to pay expenses, 22s. 6d.
In the other case the "butter" was purchased with a roll of bread at a
restaurant; it consisted entirely of margarine. The defendant pleaded that
he had purchased the article in a paper marked "Pure Butter," and the
Justice dismissed the case.
COFFEE.
It is satisfactory to report that none of the 24 samples of coffee
examined during the year were reported against.
In 1901 the percentage adulterated was 9.
MUSTARD.
22 samples of this article were examined, and in no case was adulteration
detected.