ADULTERATION OF FOOD.

West Coast Times, Issue 124, 9 February 1866, Page 2

ADULTERATION OF FOOD.

TO TIIE EDITOR OP TnH " WEST COAST TIMES."

Sir — When a man goes forth boldly upon the highway, and appropriates to himself tho property of other people, the bloodhounds of justice are instantly in pursuit; and in all well regulated countries the defiant bushranger is soon ' huntcjd down. In tho profession of a highwayman, there is certainly a good 'amount of boldness necessary. It is one individual boldly declaring hostilities against society, and daring the isSuo. Taking other people's goods on the highway, is looked upon by society as a* fearful act, and is punished (as it deserves to be) with summary and terrible severity. Bad aud all as this criminality is, in my humble opinion it is questionable if it is even as bad, — looking at the' matter in a moral light — as adulterating the daily food of the people.

Of all classes of men who are* imposed upon by unscrupulous food adulterators, none stand a comparison with tho miners. Foi'ccd by the nature of his occupation to live in localities far removed from settled life, he must purchase what ho can get in the shape of provisions ; and often must feel thankful that ho can get them at all. The unscrupulous avail themselves of $he absence of those checks which operate to their discomfiture within the boundariesof well regulated communities, and pursue their nefarious system of vending to the miner all articles of provisions which can bo adulterated in a bold and defiant manner.

The articles chiefly selected for being ' I may actually say, p oisoned, is Coffee ; yes, to " to preserve the fine aroma,' &0., &c., of this splendid beverage, it is put into . air-tight tins beautifully, bedizened and ornamented -with spicy labels and well mixed with such things as chicory, burnt bread, ditto beans and peas, and heaven ttnows how many other ingredients are amalgamated . with it to its detriment ; the homoeopathic dose of coffee which is put into the packages is literally squeezed out of them by the weight of the other materials. In truth, Mr Editor, the system of adulterating coffee is disgraceful — disgraceful indeed beyond anything know of. I can mention several instances in which parties of men in this locality after drinking coffee have been attacked with sickness immediately afterwards. In two 1 instances myself I suffered severely from the same cause. ' A medical man of my acquaintance who is mining here, and one well skilled in his profession, tells me that, in this system of food adulteration has. a great deal to do with the stimulating of those low bilious fevers which are so prevalent in this country. And without " doubt there is some truth, in this remark. It was the peculiar now phases which some of the prevalent fevers in England began to assume that first attracted the attention of Dr Hassell, of the " Lancet " in London, and compelled him to make those startling revelations about the- great adultoratiou ,of human food which Avas going on, and that so effectually, as to oblige the Government to pass strong enaotinents against it.

In tho interests not only of; tho mining community, but of a good,portion of rospectablo storekeepers as well, who have no chauce, when adulteration ia unohockod, against tho unscrupulous, I call upon tho Government of this pro*

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vince to interfere. Is the health of the people a small consideration ? Is tho morality of trade a thing not to be legislated about ? The Government of tho old country has given these matters great consideration within these last few years, nnd bos very wisely indeed legislated upon them. The Government of Canterbury would be only following example of the leading European nationsjf it boldly proclaimed it would stand tiiis traffic in human food adulteration no longer. I am, yours respectfully, A Miner.