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34
It will be noticed that tnere was last year a marked increase
in the rate of adulteration, which was largely due to the high rate
of adulteration found in articles taken unofficially. 203 samples
were purchased without the usual formalities necessary under
the Acts, and of these 47, or 23.1 per cent., were adulterated,
tending to show that adulteration is practised to a much greater
extent, than is indicated by the results of the examination of
samples taken officially under the Acts. It was evident that
some tradesmen were careful to supply a genuine article to
any chance customer who might prove to be acting on behalf
of the Inspector, but reserved their adudterated goods for
regular customers, as at certain shops the Inspector's Deputy
was at first always supplied with genuine butter, but when after
several visits he became known as an ordinary customer he
was then supplied with margarine. Unfortunately the fines
inflicted by some magistrates are quite inadequate to check
systematic fraud of this character, which, as will be gathered, is
very difficult to detect. Thus in one case after genuine butter
had been sold on five occasions, the customer was supplied—when
he had become known—with margarine on three successive
purchases, but on the prosecution of the vendor, the last sample
having been purchased with the usual formalities, he was only fined
£2, although he had been on four occasions previously convicted
for a similar offence.
In February, 1904, the Council resolved that the work under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Act should be carried out by one
Inspector alone, and Inspector C. B. Jones was directed to
undertake this duty. This arrangement has in my opinion
worked admirably, Inspector Jones has shewn great energy and
tact in the execution of his duties, and the Acts are now administered
in Fulham in a most efficient manner.