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54
In 3 samples there were both excess of water and deficiency of butter
fat. Artificial colouring matter in traces was found in three of the samples,
and boric acid in two. The amounts of boric acid in neither case exceeded
2 grains per pint, and the usual letters of warning were sent.
Legal proceedings were instituted in 21 or 33 per cent, of the cases in
which the milk samples were not up to the Board of Agriculture's standard.
In IT convictions were obtained and in 4 instances the summonses were
dismissed owing to the production of warranties. In the remaining 66 per cent,
in which samples were not up to standard prosecutions were not considered
advisable, the percentages of abstraction of fat and of added water being
too small to make a conviction likely.
In the cases in which convictions were obtained the penalties for milk
adulteration amounted to £45, which is equivalent to 11.25 per cent, of the
full amount of the penalties to which the defendants were liable, as compared
with 5.6 in 1907, 5.6 in 1906, 7.8 in 1905, 6 in 1904, 8 in 1903, and 13 in
1902. Taking the fines and costs together, which amounted to £52 2s. 6d.,
the average amount paid by the defendant upon conviction was 1s. 4d.,
as compared with £1 13s. 7d. in 1907, £2 9s. 6d. in 1906, £2 19s. £3d. in 1905,
£2 6s. 10d. in 1904, £1 18s. 6d. in 1903, and £2 18s. 4d. in 1902. In two
of the cases the defendants had been previously convicted for adulterating
milk. For the second offence they were liable to penalties of £50, but the
penalties inflicted were £4 in each instance.

Of the samples sold for butter which were found not to be genuine 18
were samples of margarine and 2 were butter containing a small percentage
of water over and above the recognised standard, which is 16 per cent.
Legal proceedings were taken in 17 instances and were successful in 15;
in two instances the defendant absconded and could not be traced. The
penalties inflicted in the cases in which convictions were obtained for the