Imported Fruits.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 18, 21 July 1897, Page 2

Imported Fruits.

o The West Australian Bureau of Agriculture has published a report of the examination of imported food. Eight samples of tinned butter were examined simultaneously with the Victorian agricultural chemist (Mr A. N. Pearson), who had duplicate samples. All were found to be geuuine butter, but many were of inferior quality, Mr Pearson and the local analyst agreeing on this point. Several samples were slightly short weight on the reputed. The Bureau comments that during 1895 96 there were 5,098,4221 bof butter in ting and boxea imported into West Australia, valued at the Customs at ±'222,940. An average shortage ou tins and boxes of 4oz would mean that the colony in one line alone lost 55,6421 bin two years. Five samples of colonial and one American tinned meat were examined, and all were short woight. Three samples of canned frait were all short, ono of Victorian plums, reputed to be 2£lb, being ! nearly Boz short. Samples of pepper, coffee and honey were all short. Of ten samples of jam Victorian, South Australian, and Tasmanian samples were from 2ioz to 4£oz short of reputed weights of 21b. The only exception was a sample of Aberdeen marmalade, whicb was 40gr overweight. The Bureau; adds— " This indicates that out of £75,000 worth of jams imported during the past two years, £15,000 was paid for that the consumer never got." The Bureau has communicated with the authorities, the police, and the Attorney. General, with a view to action. The Attorney General has replied that ho docs not thiuk it au offence punishable before Justices in the colony to sell butter, raeafc, kc, in tins stated to contain a certain weight, when the contents of tho tiu fail short of that weight.