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45
List of bedding destroyed in the Incinerator from January to December
1904 : —
18 Beds. 2 Quilts.
143 Mattresses. 4 Coats.
12 Palliasses. 4 Trousers.
2 Bolsters. 2 Vests.
3 Sheets. 2 Cushions.
3 Blankets. 89 Sundries.
Unsound Food.
A large quantity of unsound food was surrendered during the year,
the greater part being taken from the wharves. The quantity surrendered
at the wharves was less than in the previous year, and it would be still less had
not two big fires occurred in July and August, which rendered large quantities
of foodstuffs which they contained, quite unfit for human food. There was
less unsound fruits imported than in the previous year. For instance, 5 cwt.
of plums were destroyed compared with 185 tons in the previous year. At one
of the wharf fires referred to above, about 300 tons of various spices, e.g.,
pepper, ginger, turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, &c., were rendered unsound and unfit
for human consumption.
Proceedings were taken against vendors of unsound food and convictions
were obtained in five cases.
Two were dismissed as will be seen later on.
In one case, exceptional difficulties were encountered due to the fact that
the ultimate destination of the unsound food was to a person who sold human
food as well as cat's meat. Unfortunately there is nothing to prevent this
system being carried on. If I enter a tripe dresser's shop and find diseased
meat being exposed for sale, the owner immediately states that it is not intended
for human food, and is only meant for cats meat. He points out meat
that can obviously only be sold as cat's meat. The same thing happens if I
enter that part of the premises where the meat is cooked and prepared. Human
food and cat's meat are boiled in boilers side by side. If there is any diseased
meat being prepared, it is claimed that it is not intended for human food. As