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and 125 bags of unsound onions seized at Universal Wharf, Bankaide.
In all these cases the goods were condemned by the Magistrate, but he
refused to convict either the consignee, the broker, or the wharfinger, as
ho felt it was difficult to say how far either of these persons was aware
of the unsound condition of the articles. The Council had to bear the
cost of removal in each case as no conviction was obtained. It has been
suggested that the boroughs should remove all unsound food free of
charge. If the Council of Southwark were obliged to collect all unsound
food, without remuneration, that is thrown aside in the process of sorting,
and which is now taken away and paid for as trade refuse, the Council
would be put to the expense of many hundreds of pounds a year.
Wo are hoping that before long Section 47 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, will bo extended in the direction of
(1) That there shall ho no restriction of the entry of an officer to
premises upon which any article intended for the food of
man is either stored, or being prepared or deposited, or in
transit, and that a penalty shall accrue upon any refusal
or hindrance to such entry.
(2) That all unsound food, by virtue of its unsoundness, shall
have become the property of the Council, and that it shall
bo unlawful for any person upon whose premises such
unsound food is deposited, to in any way permit, or allow
it to bo removed, sold, or otherwise disposed of. Notice of
the possession of unsound food shall be given forthwith by
the owner of the premises, or the person in whose possession
tho unsound food is found, to the local authority. A
penalty in default.