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The percentage of samples found adulterated was highest in the second and lowest
in the fourth quarter of the year. In 32 of the samples water was stated to have been
added. In 18 of these the amount was over, and in 14 it was under 5 per cent. In
21 of the samples the milk was deficient in fat, the deficiency being over in 13 instances
and under 5 per cent. in eight. In 6 samples it was found that the fat was
deficient and the water in excess. In three instances boric acid or a preparation
thereof as an added preservative was found without any other adulteration. In two
others in addition: to the milks not being in conformity with the Board of Agriculture's
standard, boric acid was also, found. The largest amount in any of the samples was
at the rate of grains to the pint. Formic aldehyde to the extent of 1 part in
10,000, was found in one instance. In three the samples besides being below standard,
also showed traces of artificial colouring matter, and in six instances the presence of
traces of such colouring matters was the only thing noted by the analyst.
Legal proceedings were taken in 28, or a little over 40 per cent. of the cases
in which the milks were below standard. In 21 of these convictions were obtained.
In 2 cases the production of warranties rendered the prosecutions unsuccessful, and
the summonses were dismissed, but the defendants were in each instance ordered to
pay two guineas costs to the Council. In two cases the summonses were withdrawn on
the production of warranties, in one the defendant paying 12s. 6d. costs to the Council.
In one case the summons was dismissed, as the wrong party had been summonsed,
the business having changed hands prior to the samples being taken. In the second
case the summons was dismissed, the magistrate having been satisfied that the milk,
the sample of which on analysis was found to be deficient in fat to the extent of 7 per
cent., was sold in the same condition as received from the wholesale dealer and as
taken from the cow.
In a third case the summons was dismissed, the magistrate objecting to the form
and wording of the analyst's certificate. A case was asked to be stated, and the matter
remains at present unsettled.
In the remainder of the cases in which the analysis showed that the milks were
below the standard, it was not deemed advisable to prosecute, in most instances the
percentages of abstraction of fat or addition of water not exceeding five per cent. In
seven instances in which the analyst's certificates showed the presence of 5 per cent.
of water added, letters cautioning the vendors were sent.