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Of the formal samples, 27 out of 362 were found to be adulterated, made up as follows:—
13 of Milk out of 295 samples taken.
3 of Cream out of 3 samples taken.
3 of Gin out of 8 samples taken.
2 of Butter out of 16 samples taken.
1 of Liniment of Turpentine out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Margarine out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Rum out of 6 samples taken.
1 of Vinegar out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Whisky out of 26 samples taken.
1 of White Precipitate Ointment out of 1 sample taken.
The above samples, in all cases except Milk, Margarine and Spirits, were taken as the
result of informal samples having been certified as adulterated.
General Observations:—The percentage rate of adulteration of all foods sampled in the
City was 4.2, as compared with 3.7 for 1925.
Butter.—Of the 113 samples of butter taken, 64 were of butter served with bread or
scone. Of these samples, 5 were certified to consist of Margarine.
Drugs.—Ten samples of Drugs were found not to comply with the standards of the
British Pharmacopoeia. There was one prosecution. In other instances cautions were
issued.
Margarine.—One sample of Margarine was sold in an improperly marked wrapper.
The attention of the Vendor was called to this and the wrapper altered to comply with the
legal requirements. One sample was sold in a plain wrapper and the Vendor prosecuted
and fined.
Spirits.—Of the 40 samples of Spirits taken, 5 were found to be below the statutory
minimum strength of 35 degrees under proof. In 2 instances legal proceedings were institutued, and in the other cases the Vendors were cautioned.
Ginger Wine.—In connection with the recorded instance of adulteration of Ginger
Wine, the wholesalers withdrew the brew from stock when their attention was called to
the matter.
SUPERVISED AND REGISTERED PREMISES.
Wholesale Dealers in Margarine and Margarine Cheese.—One new application for
registration was received during the year from a firm which had carried on the business for
several months. This information was obtained during the course of enquiries instituted
by reason of a communication from another Local Authority. Legal proceedings were
taken against this firm for failing to register, but the case was dismissed under the Probation
of Offenders' Act on payment of £1 1s. costs.
Ice Cream.—The usual inspections in connection with the manufacture or sale of Ice
Cream within the City were made. In all cases where manufacture took place outside the
City the Local Authority concerned was informed and requested to state if the premises
and manufacture were satisfactory. Replies to these enquiries showed, with one exception,
conditions to be satisfactory. In the case mentioned, sanitary improvements were required
and executed.
The barrows or stalls of itinerant vendors were visited from time to time during the
Summer season, and in several instances where a lack of cleanliness of the utensils was
observed cautions were administered.
THE MILK AND DAIRIES ORDER, 1926, AND
THE MILK AND DAIRIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1922.
Sixteen new applications for registration as retail purveyors of milk were received and
approved during the year.
Registration Statistics.
Number of Retail Purveyors of Milk on the Register at end of 1925 340
New Applications for Registration received 16
Applications granted 16
Applications refused —
Names of Retailers transferred to new Register 1
Names of Retailers removed from the Register 22
Number of Retail Purveyors of Milk on the Register at the end of 1926 334
Number of Milksellers (other than Retail Purveyors of Milk) on the Register at the
end of 1925 Nil
Licences issued under the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923 4