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of this proposed court of reference as are the public
analysts.
"Penalties.—I agree with the remarks made by the
Council of the Society of Public Analysts, that the fixing of
a minimum fine of £5 for a second offence should not be
absolutely binding on a Magistrate, as it might lead to his
dismissing comparatively trivial cases rather than imposing
the £5 penalty.
"2. The question of Warranty.—This being a purely legal
point, your solicitor Mr. Topham, has kindly assisted me
me with his valuable advice.
"The warranty clause is being taken advantage of most
unfairly by certain large milk dealers.
"For instance.—A servant of a milk dealer adds water
to a milk for his own profit (probably with the tacit connivance
of his employer, who thereby is enabled to pay less
wages to his servants). On the hearing of the case a
warranty is produced, and the delivery of the milk is traced
from the farmer to the man who delivers it to the consumer.
The latter denies having tampered with the milk, and the
Magistrate has to dismiss the case. The warranty clause
should therefore be entirely repealed.
"3. Notices of Dilution of Spirits.—The dilution of
Spirits is not referred to at all in the new Bill.
"At present, although the strength of Spirits is fixed
by the Act, a publican has only to put up the usual notice,
'All Spirits sold in this establishment, to meet the requirements
of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act are sold as diluted
Spirits,' and he can sell any strength he pleases.
"This plan has now been adopted by a certain large firm
of refreshment contractors for the sale of milk. A notice
is put up that ' Every care is taken that the milk sold
should be of good quality, but it is not guaranteed as either
pure or containing all its cream.'
"This line of defence might be extended to various other
articles of food.
"The new Act should stop these practices.
"There are various other defects, both of omission and
commission, in Mr. Chaplin's Bill which I will not refer to.
"In conclusion, I would suggest that this Board should