H — 81.

68

PART VI.—SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT. Auckland District. Comparatively little work has so far been done in regard to the systematic supervision of the puritj- of foodstuffs and the conditions of their preparation and sale. The need for special regulations under that Act is very evident, and for officers whose time can be largely devoted to the work. Possibly the new scheme of inspection by Hospital Boards will supply the latter want. In Auckland we have been especially handicapped by the absence of a local Analyst. Our efforts to submit samples of perishable goods—such as milk —to Wellington have met with failure. Negotiations are in progress to secure the services of a local expert for this work for the Police and Health Departments. A considerable amount of attention has been given throughout the province to the question of selling underweight bread. A large number of samples were taken, and several prosecutions followed. In one case a prosecution failed apparently owing to a misinterpretation of the word " sale " under the Act. The following tables summarize the work : —

Returns for Period 1st January to 31st December, 1910. SAMPLES TAKEN FOR EXAMINATION.

Initials of Seller. Sample purchased. Where. Date and Time. Result of Analysis or Weighing. I G. H. CE. .. A.C.B... M. E.G. .. J. M. .. J.B. .. W. B. S. R. J. G. R. W. F. E. T. L. G. &C. R. W. .. H. &C R.C. .. s. &s. T. B. .. R. A. G. J. N. .. S. F. .. W. R. .. A. G. C. H. &C. N. A. N. M.D. .. G. M. C. S. H. .. C. S.G. .. J. M. G. M. S. T.H. .. R. J.B. .. S. T. B. .. W. B. S. K. S. A. D. Baking-powder .. Milk Bread .. ,, ,, • „ ., 5) i. '. Milk Bread .. ,, 7. '.'. Milk Bread • • ») • ■ )) Jam Bread .. • • j »j u tt 7, . . i ,, Jam „ ' Bread .. ... jj t. '. Mii'k .. j Whisky .. Auckland Avondale Cambridge ?> ?> Taupiri . . Te Awamutu Hamilton .) Frankton Hamilton Te Kuiti Ngaruawahia Frankton Taumarunui Hamilton )> J* >i Rotorua . > Hamilton Auckland Huntly .. Helens ville Darga ville Parnell . . »> Auckland >, Hamilton Auckland Hamilton Newmarket )> Parnell .. Whatawhata Feb. 22 July 5 .. Aug. 2 .. „ 2 • • „ 2 • • „ 3 „ 10 .. i „ 13 ■ ■ „ 13 .. „ 13 .. : „ 13 .. * „ 18 .. i „ 18 .. j „ 20 .. : .. 22 „ 26 „ 26 .. „ 24 „ 24 .. Sept, 9 „ 9 „ 22 „ 22 „ 12 .. Oct. 14 • • „ 14 ■ • ,, 14 ■ • „ 17 „ 18 • • .,18 „ 18 „ 20 „ 20 „ 21 .. „ 21 .. „ 27 „ 27 .. Nov. 1 • • „ 4 „ 10 „ 8 • • ,, 12 „ 8 „ 8 .. : „ 16 • ] ,. 16 Dec. 15 .. ! „ 16 Slightly under standard. Full weight. IJ >» ») 7, > J Short weight. Full weight. Short weight. Sent for examination. Full weight. Short weight. Full weight. Short weight. >» ) J Short weight. Full weight. Pending. Full weight. )> JJ >> *•> ) i >> tt Pending. Short weight. Full weight. Short weight. Full weight. )J Standard.