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sent to the vendors of genuine samples intimating that the portions
left with them need no longer be retained.
A brief résumé of a few matters and cases of special interest
is herewith appended.
Butter.—It is worthy of note that of the 133 samples of
butter examined all were returned as genuine. Thirteen samples
examined for moisture did not exceed the statutory limit of 16
per cent.
Margarine.—Under the Margarine Acts, recently repealed, it
was provided that the wrapper immediately enclosing this article
should have the word "Margarine" appearing thereon in halfinch
block letters, even though the whole was eventually placed
into another wrapper or bag.
A slight modification of this provision appears in the Consolidated
Act, which states that if the article is enclosed in more
than one wrapper, then the word "Margarine" shall appear on
the outside of the outer wrapper.
It is a common practice for vendors to cut a properly stamped
half-pound parcel of margarine into two portions, when a quarter
of a pound is requested, the customer thus having only a part of
the word "Margarine" on the wrapper, the irregularity being
further aggravated by the article then being placed into a plain
outside paper or bag.
The attention of the retail vendors and the wholesale firms
was drawn to this contravention, were cautioned, and also advised
as to the requirements of the new Act.
In certain instances proceedings have been instituted, where
it has been considered that the circumstances have warranted
this course of action. In one of these cases the circumstances
were somewhat unusual. The margarine in question had been
manufactured for export, but apparently did not leave this country.
The wrapper enclosing the article bore the name of the port to
which the margarine was intended to be sent, the word "Margarine"
being in letters of insufficient size, and other printed
matter also appeared thereon, contrary to the provisions of the
Act. This sample is also dealt with in that part of this report
dealing with the Preservative Regulations.
One sample of margarine examined for moisture was returned
as being within the limit of 16 per cent., which is the maximum
amount of moisture allowed for margarine, as well as butter.
Of the 64 informal samples (not submitted for analysis) which
were purchased to ascertain whether the regulations as to stamping
the wrappers were being carried out, 26 had only part of the
word "Margarine" thereon and 4 were sold in plain wrappers.
Cautions were given to the vendors in each case.