1908.] Report of the Intelligence Division. 445 



and Drugs Acts, the Merchandise Marks Acts, the Fertilisers 

 and Feeding Stuffs Acts, and as regards the carriage of agricul- 

 tural produce. 



The report describes the steps taken with a view to the pre- 

 vention of the importation and also of the sale in this country 

 of adulterated dairy produce, &c. A few of the points dealt 

 with are given below : — 



As regards the law relating to the sale of milk, it is mentioned 

 that comparatively few complaints have been received during 

 this year from farmers, but an important deputation was 

 received by Sir Edward Strachey, Bart., M.P., on behalf of 

 the President of the Board, from the Central and Associated 

 Chambers of Agriculture and various dairy farmers' Associations 

 early in the year. 



This deputation pressed for legislation making it compulsory 

 on local authorities to resort to the procedure known as the 

 " appeal to the cow," before instituting proceedings in respect 

 of samples of milk found below the limits referred to in the Sale 

 of Milk Regulations, 1901, and it was suggested that the 

 " appeal to the cow " should take place within twenty-four 

 hours of the time when the original sample was taken, and that 

 regard should be had to the quantity of milk sent out by the 

 cowkeeper on the date of the appeal, as compared with the 

 quantity sent out on the date when the original sample was 

 taken. 



There is no doubt that an " appeal to the cow " conducted on 

 these lines would often furnish valuable evidence on the ques- 

 tion whether the original sample was adulterated, or genuine, 

 though poor in quality, but it is difficult to see how the local 

 authority conducting the appeal could ascertain the quantity 

 of milk sent out of the dairy on any particular date, unless an 

 elaborate system of keeping records of milk production under 

 strict supervision were established. 



It would also entail the maintenance of a large staff of expert 

 inspectors, and in the cases where milk was sent from a distance 

 it would involve the issue of directions by one local authority 

 to another. 



As regards the fixing of a standard of quality for milk, it 

 is pointed out that the question whether it is desirable to prevent 

 the sale of milk of poor quality is, in the main one, for the Public 



