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49
In their last report the Vestry made reference to the trifling
penalties imposed by the Magistrates in cases of proceedings
instituted by the Vestry under the Sale of Food and Drugs and
the Margarine Acts, and that the practice of inflicting
ridiculously inadequate penalties was continued, will be seen
upon inspection of the foregoing table.
On the 11th December it was reported to the Vestry that in
the case of Mrs. L. Miller, of No. 5, Hartington Terrace,
Queen's Road, Battersea, who was summoned for selling milk a
sample of which upon analysis was certified by the Public
Analyst to have had at least 50 per cent. of its original fat
abstracted, a fine of only 3/- and 2/- costs was imposed.
With regard to this case the Solicitor reported to the effect
that the Defendant had a portion of the sample of milk analysed
by an independent Analyst who certified that 40 per cent. at
least of fat had been abstracted, the only defence being that the
defendant sold such a small quantity of milk that she could not
get a guarantee from the person from whom it was bought, and
that although he applied for the usual costs of the analysis
the Magistrate declined to grant them.
The subject was referred to the consideration of the
Sanitary Committee, and, upon their report, the Vestry, on the
30th December, directed a communication to be addressed to
the Members of Parliament for the Borough, requesting them
to bring the matter under the notice of the House of Commons.
Accordingly, on the 20th February, Mr. O. V. Morgan
moved, in his place in the House of Commons, for a return of
the number of cases under the Food and Drugs and the
Margarine Acts which had been brought before the Magistrates
sitting at the Wandsworth Police Court during the past year,
shewing the extent of the adulteration and the amount of fines
and costs inflicted in the various cases, and the Home Secretary
replied that there were twenty-three cases under the Food and
Drugs Act, and thirteen under the Margarine Act, and stated
that he would be happy to shew Mr. Morgan a return of the
fines inflicted in each case.