INSPECTION WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 10

INSPECTION WANTED.

-J Sir,—Now and 'again'our . Magistrates -are called /upon to sit "ia judgment upon.niilkmen who are accused of watering, or otherwise' adulterating,. tho milt they arc offering for"salo, and,-there is; no,.reason,;yvhy these tradespeople should not be punished for selling impure food. . The principal reason urged again • thim7is.'tKst''.th6;. niilk is/ ' consumed largely' by children, and in -the. i interest' of the. health' of the children—tho health of the'nation—it is imperative'that an article used so largely as a beverage should be puro. There are, however, , other ~ beverages'• to , which - tho 'authorities i.should' ■ .pay attention. To my-mind, tho /first step in this direction should 'bo to.',carefully ahalyse the, liquids largely sold 1 'in ! -this. Doi minion' : ln barrels (to shops) and . in /stone jars, and :it is .certain that. these, so-called, pure drinks- woiikl -bo - fouild-^tov-be^-most-harmful and injurious to those who eon--Buma tjpem. -As . children drink, probably,; . threa-fourths of .tbo. total .quantity of ..this, class of "refreshment" tihat is sold, it is" easy to see'that the public health ; cali suffer, more in direction than .through:, drink,-; ing' .waterwl "milk. Then .again, there are about .five ;bratidfl ; of icbrdi'als on i the ; 'New t Zealand about'.' • • that are really^hat' they'" Sre' supposecF'to*' bo.-. Tho balance aro,,mado .from,.injurious, chemicals ;•.and acids,'.'and aro 'sufficiently', deadly to 'kill at 'a long .range;'drink nearly'all of - these cordials..' •. That alcoholic ' liquors are adulterated .is b well 'known fact, but'thcs'e : .are-generally . pure when , they leave tho makers' hands. : On the.other hand, most "soft drinks!' are often meroly .coloured water, and after be'ing mixed .With the flavourings used, .they are much more injurious than pu/b;, water coloured, yet .they are' sold, .and often bought, as / "tonics,".- "refreshers,"- ' etc,' Where is the Department of Public• Health? —1 am, etc., , ' SLOP BEER. March 16. ; .