H.—3l.

In view of much criticism as to possibility or impossibility of complying with the milk standards made by regulation under the Act, I have deemed it advisable to set out the actual analytical figures as to each sample examined by the Analyst, Dr. Maclaurin. (These details may be found in Appendix IV.-C.) A summary of these analyses gives the following results :— Highest butter-fat recorded . . .. .. .. .. .. 5-30 Lowest „ .. .. .. .. ~ .. 2-38 Highest total solids recorded .. .. .. .. .. .. 14-54 Lowest „ .. .. .. .. .. .. 9-16 Highest solids, not fat, recorded .. .. .. .. .. 9-24 Lowest ~ ~ ~ .. .. .. .. .. 5-88 Highest percentage adulteration by addition of water .. ~ .. 30-80 Total number of samples taken and analysed .. .. ~ .. 146 Number complying with regulations .. . . .. .. .. 75 Average per cent, proportion of butter-fat in the 146 good, bad, and indifferent samples.. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. 3-67 Average per cent, proportion of butter-fat in the 75 good samples complying with the regulations . . . . .. .. .. .. 3-92 Average per cent, proportion of butter-fat in the 71 bad, and indifferent samples not complying with regulations .. . . .. .. .. 3-41 Canterbury District. The administration of the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act and the regulations made thereunder have thrown a considerable amount of extra work on the Inspectors. Milk-shops. Twenty milk-shops have been inspected, and leave to sell milk has been granted in all cases, after suitable provision for storage had been made. Samples taken for Analysis. Ten samples of temperance drinks were taken for analysis, and the result showed that some samples of hop beer and herbal beers had a larger amount of proof spirit than was allowed by the Act—namely, 2 per cent. The attention of the manufacturers was drawn to the provisions of the Act, and they were warned that prosecution would follow a second offence. Among the other samples taken were bread, vinegar, mustard, and cordials. Milk. There were 201 samples of milk taken. Of these, 154 were good, 29 were doubtful, and 18 were were sufficiently below the standard to warrant a prosecution. Of the 18 prosecutions, 1 was dismissed ; in the remaining 17 cases, fines totalling £63, and varying from £1 to £10, were imposed. Most of the samples were taken in Christchurch, but samples were also taken in Sumner, New Brighton, Lyttelton, Ashburton, Timaru, and Oamaru. The results outside Christchurch were satisfactory, except in Timaru, where some of the milk was found to be skimmed. Samples were first taken in Christchurch in May, and for the first two or three months there were always found some adulterated samples. In January, 30 samples were taken, and were all found satisfactory, showing that the prosecutions had had good effect. These samples were taken at the end of a wet month, when, according to many dairy farmers, the grass was in just that condition that would make it impossible for them to keep up to the standard. The fact that these samples were all above the standard shows fairly conclusively, apart from a large amount of other evidence, that the standard is a fair one, and not too high. Even under the present standard it is fairly certain that in Christchurch, where adulteration is more scientifically carried out than elsewhere, by removing cream and adding water in right proportions, a certain number escape prosecution. Otago and Southland District. Foodstuffs Seized and Destroyed under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Rotten oranges . . . . . . 44 cases. Decayed bacon . . . . 10 rolls. Bacon .. .. .. .. 8 pieces. Decomposing rabbits .. .. 1 crate. Pigs .. .. .. . . 6 carcases. Pineapples .. .. .. 52 cases. Tinned American salmon .. .. 49 cases. Pears .. .. .. .. 4 ~ Mouldy figs .. .. .. 12 boxes. Bananas .. .. .. 14 ~ Decayed apples .. .. .. 3 cases. Hams . . .. . . .. 105 Decayed pears . . .. ... 8 „ Bacon . . . . .. 17 rolls. Decayed bananas .. . . 6 ~ Herring .. .. .. 24 tins. Sugar, damp and mouldy .. 5 bags. Fowls diseased .. .. .. 38. Samples collected for Analysis. Water .. .. .. . . .. 15 | Bread .. .. .. .. .. 13 Milk .. .. .. .. .. 2 |

6—H. 31.

41