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57
In 14 cases the samples of milk were slightly below the
standard suggested by the Board of Agriculture. Being first
offences, the vendors were written to calling their attention to the
fact, and asking them for some explanation, further samples being
taken subsequently.
Of these 14 samples nine (new milks) contained added water to
the extent of an average of 2 6 per cent., and five were deficient in
fat to the extent of an average uf 8.6 per cent.
Of the 12 prosecutions for selling adulterated milk, one
defendant was a farmer and wholesale dealer, the sample being
taken in course of delivery at the railway station. The other
samples were all purchased in the streets on the various milk
rounds. No preservatives were found in any of the milk.
During the year 11 samples of cream were submitted for
analysis. All were certified to be genuine and free from
preservatives.
Nine informal samples of Rice were taken during the year, of
which eight were found to be adulterated by facing with small
amounts of additional mineral matter varying from 0.05 per cent. to
ro per cent.
Eighty-seven informal, or test samples of Butter were purchased
of which six proved to be not genuine. Subsequent official
samples were taken in the adulterated instances, when in two cases
the fraud was repeated, and prosecutions followed.
Thirty-three informal samples of lard were purchased, all of
which proved genuine.
The test samples were mostly purchased by various women in
small quantities with other articles, generally during the busy
periods in the evenings.