1909.] Report of Commercial Control Branch. 401 



instituted, and in others where no proceedings were taken, the 

 result was none the less satisfactory in view of the fact that 

 the intervention of the Board leads in most cases to a discon- 

 tinuance of the practices complained of, and ensures the more 

 complete enforcement of the laws. 



One series of cases of considerable importance related to the 

 adulteration of pollards with artificial shudes. 



Early in the year the Board received a communication from 

 an Association of millers in Scotland relating to an offer made 

 by a Liverpool trader to sell to one of their number shudes 

 at 50s. per ton. The trader stated that this article was exten- 

 sively used for mixing with pollards, and it was suggested by 

 the Association that the offer and statement amounted to an 

 incitement to commit a misdemeanour. 



Inquiry was made, but no evidence of this offence could be 

 found. The Board accordingly suggested to certain Official 

 Samplers that they should test articles supplied by the trader 

 in question. Samples of the article in question were forwarded 

 to the Government Laboratory, and the Principal Chemist 

 reported that the samples consisted of finely-ground gypsum 

 and fine wood sawdust in approximately equal weights. 



With the assistance of the Chief Constable of Leicester- 

 shire, the Board then procured sample packets of shudes and 

 pollards from the Liverpool trader. The shudes were found 

 to be the same as those described above, and the two samples 

 of pollards were found to contain 18 to 22 per cent, re- 

 spectively of gypsum. The Board directed that proceedings 

 should be taken under the Merchandise Marks Act in respect 

 of the samples of pollards, but were advised that it wab 

 doubtful if a prosecution under these Acts in respect of a 

 sample packet would be successful. 



They then instructed one of their Inspectors to purchase a 

 small quantity of pollards at the premises of the Liverpool 

 trader. This purchase was analysed and found to be genuine. 



As it was evident that an extensive and fraudulent trade was 

 being carried on, and that the trader was on his guard against 

 I the purchase of small samples, the Board, with the assistance 

 I of the Chief Constable of Leicestershire, procured a consign- 

 j ment of a ton of pollards to be delivered at premises in 

 Leicestershire. Samples of this consignment were analysed 



F F 



