WHAT WE EAT AND DRINK.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 702, 20 August 1903, Page 20

WHAT WE EAT AND DRINK.

At no period in the history of Australasia has the need of stringent legislation for the suppression of adulteration, in New South Wales especially, been more urgent than at present. We have very little safeguard in New South Wales in the way of systematic inspection, analysis, and prosecution. Infringements of manufacturers’ rights with respects to proprietary lines have to be combated by traders. Perhaps one of the most brazen systems of trade deception practised is that of the sale of liquors over the bar. There are hotels where, though recognised standard lines of liquors are displayed, both on the counter and in the fixtures, the labels on the bottles and manufacturers’ name blown in the glass wofully belie the contents. The writer has during the past few weeks taken the opportunity to visit certain houses, arid to mark bottles placed on the counter purporting to contain leading brands of whisky, brandy, or schnapps. xXlthough those behind the counter state that such and such .a whisky or schnapps has a very large sale, and that they empty so many bottles each day, the same bottle is handed over the counter for weeks and even months, until the label becomes soiled beyond recognition, and the bottle for sheer decency sake is substituted by another. This, in turn, is filled and refilled over and; over again w’ith cheap, well-diluted, doctored spirits which is systematically retailed to a class ci drinkers who for the most part “know not Joseph.” This fraud is largely practised with whisky and schnapps. In the matter af whisky misrepresentation, the substitute is generally that of a low quality raw spirit. Unfortunately, the same undesirable article is supplied to the poor, who have to resort to the “bottle and jug department” for a small quantity of spirit, ordered by the doctor for the requirements of the sick. Custom, however, with regard to rhe adulteration of schnapps, which is frequently sold in the same way, assumes a more serious and dangerous aspect. Some little time ago a leading firm of Sydney merchants made over 25 prosecutions in. connection with offering spurious schnapps over the counter. In : every instance the prosecutions were successful, and fines amounting to about £5OO in thb aggregate were paid by the offenders.., The article sold over the counter as “schnapps”, is frequently an

admixture of low-priced gin and stale sodawater, and is always retailed out of a bottle into which is blown the name of ‘ a reputable firm, but who are complete strangers to the contents. This question is. admittedly an extremely difficult one to deal with. The aggressive offender is hard to catch, and those who are set to watch are easily bribed to retreat with a bottle of genuine liquor. Still, what can be done in the United Kingdom or on the Continent can be done in Sydney,, and there is no reason why wilful offenders should be excused because they are hard to catch. —(Sydney “Daily Telegraph.”)

An Aberdeen architect has had the good fortune to have his plans selected for a splendid new hotel in London. The syndicate, who propose to erect on a site in the Strand a hotel which is intended to rival in size, furnishings, and equipment the Hotel Cecil and the Carlton, have appointed Mr McKenzie to carry out the work. The building will be erected near the Waterloo Bridge, alongside the Gaiety Theatre, and it is expected that the material used will be Aberdeen granite. The cost of the hotel will amount to £220,000.

In binding over a licensed victualler, summoned for having permitted drunkennness on licensed premises, a Liverpool stipendiary magistrate said a drunken person who entered a licensed house must be treated as a thief on the premises ; he or she must be put out at once, the police must be fetched, and the whole business of the place must be suspended, and the whole of the staff brought on the scene, rather than allow the person to remain. Licensees, urged the magistrate, ought to treat a drunken man on their premises as they would a man who had come to rob their till. It is apparent, therefore, that in the Old Country a stricter observance of the law relating to drunkenness on licensed premises is( demanded than in this colony.

It will be good news to those who have occasion to visit Raglan to learn that Mr A. J. Norris is improving the Royal Hotel out of all recognition. He has been in occupation about fifteen months, and has spared no expense in placing the house on a level with the best of country houses in the colony. Mr Norris has had several years’ experience as chief steward in the Unopn Company’s steamers, and was also in possession of the Grand and Palace Hotels, at Rotorua, which facts speak for themselves!. If it was generally known what a healthy resort Raglan is more visitors would go there. Shootings fishing, and boating ig to be obtained, and now that there is a really first-class hotel, conducted on the most up-to-date Tines, the only drawback to a visit has been removed. Mr Norrisi’ hotel has been “ discovered ” by those keen judges, the commercial travellers,, who state that for comfort it has no superior.