POISONING THE PEOPLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 170, 19 September 1908, Page 5

POISONING THE PEOPLE.

Something About Rotten Figs.

Hebrew Traders and their Trash.

What is the Health

Doing?

A' well-known Wellington Jewish firm of importers has evidently got on the blind side of the Health Department's inspectors or some other authority who should see that the public is protected against unscrupulous traders who foist foodstuffs on to consumers which are unfit for'hum- . an. consumption; Some time ago this Hebrew firm imported a shipment of Itgs, and on arrival these were found- to be one mass of maggots and other delicacies. For a time the filthy, maggot-infested, figs r.cis left m one of the wharf sheds, until they became infested with rats and other rodents which have preference . for putrid substances. The shipment was transferred to, one of the boats running between New. Zealand and Australia, and the lively figs travelled backwards and forwards . for a considerable tiino. Recently the Hebrew firm devised a means of getting ,rid of the . horrid stuff, and the figs were, deposited m one of the freezer^ belonging to a New Zealand export firm with the object of KILLING THE TOO-LIVELY MAGGOTS, a task m which the children of Judah achieved success. The figs have from time to time been unloaded on to the public, chiefly m country towns, but a consideraWe quantity was disposed of to a jam manufacturing firm, "and thrift}' housewives would be'well advised to Keep' an eye on dheap .fig jams lor. some time to come. What, this journal desires to know is, What are the Health Department officials doing m this -matter ?', Has the Department no power to act under the Pure Foods Act, and if it has, why have not steps been taken' to bring the Yiddish firm before the Court. It would appear that the , Department lias conveniently closed its eye to this filthy practice, as the information is common property about the wharfs. Whilst Dr. Mason is carrying on- a .campaign',- m the direction of a pure milk supply, 'it appears strange that a reputable firm should be permitted to unload putrid fruit on to an unsuspecting public, /and the sooner a stop is put to this practice ihe better it will be for all concerned. '■■-„