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cent in 1902. Taking the fines and costs together, however, the average amounts paid
by the defendants on conviction were £2 6s. 10d. as compared with £1 18s. 6d. in
1903 and £2 18s. Od. in 1902.
The question of warranties has lately been receiving attention at the hands of those
who have to do with the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. The law
in this respect needs amendment.

Fifteen of the twenty samples which were not genuine were found to be margarine.
In the remaining five there was water in excess of the 16 per cent. recognised as allowable
in butter. Nineteen of the samples not genuine contained traces of boric acid or
a preparation thereof. Legal proceedings Were taken in 14, or 70 per cent, of the cases
of adulteration of butter and convictions were obtained in 12 instances. One summons
was withdrawn at the suggestion of the Magistrate on the payment of costs amounting to
12s. 6d., and one summons was dismissed without costs on the grounds of conflicting
evidence.
One sample was taken under the Margarine Act. The vendor was
summonsed for exposing margarine for sale without a label and also for
selling margarine in contravention of Section 8 of the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act 1899, which restricts the amount of butter-fat in margarine to 10 per cent. A
fine of Is. was imposed by the Magistrate in each case without costs.
The penalties inflicted in the cases in which convictions were obtained in respect to
samples of butter and margarine amounted to ,£31 3s. 0d., which gives an average of
10 per cent. of the maximum penalty per case, as compared with 18 per cent. in 1903
and 17 per cent. in 1902. Including costs the amount imposed by the Magistrates
for each conviction averaged £3 Is. Od. as compared with £4. 10s. Od. in 1903 and
£4 Is. Od. in 1902.
The samples of lard, seidlitz powder, cheese, cocoa, pepper, flour, arrowroot,
dripping, brandy, cod liver oil, milk and water, tea, mustard and almond oil were all
reported as genuine.