Washington sentinel., 1899-07-15
y u7 FOR EIGN NEW 8.
fIGTSlGEsd and Selected from EsadfTp
hHI0bsaH bGbsISI0Y he SENTINEL.
ENGLAND.
DIR IN TEA.
Com HetrfaI MfslliPenrs

Com RerciaL Intelligence.
Our special correspondents revela
tions concerning the aduteration Of tea
and the rules tor its examination by the
custom house have provoked the
greatest interest, not only in the trade,
but tthroughoutth the country. Last week,
IN the House, Sir F Flannery asker
the Chancellor Of the Exchequer If his
attention had been called to a statement
IN the press that a quarter of the caper
teas and half of the dust teas now
imported should be comiscated under
the Food and Drugs Act Of 1875 BY
reason Of their containing 20 per cent
OF earthly matter and sand; whether he
would explain the nature ol the
precautions taken BY the customs
department in London for the detection
OF such adul Grafton, and whether the
number OF samples analyzed could be
increased with advantage and whether.
having regard to the lact that the
descriptions Of tea above named were
for the most part consumed by the
humber classes least able to protect
themselves against aiulterauon. he
would increase the staff Of inspectors
especially alloCated to the duties OF
sampling and analysis OF caper and dust
teas,
The Chancellor oil the Excheuuer.
NV attention has been called to the
matter. The Board of Customs have,
IN view Representations made to them
by certain firms and statements IN the
press, ordered a full inquiry to be made
1t is not easy, within the limits OF an
answer to a question, to explain the
precautions taken by the Board for the
detection Of the adulterauon Of tea; but
I shall be happy, if the Hon. member
wishes it, to surply HIM with particulars
The Board Oi Customs, as at present
advised, do not consider that there is
anv need for altering the eM ting
regulations, but IT,, as a result Of the
investigation now IN progress, 1t should
appear advisable to make such altera.
tions or to increase the number OF tea
the necessary steps will be
taken at once.
On the 10 loving evening Mr. Carew
to q e attack, He asked the
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
he was aware that large lmpor.
tations of tea rejected by the Hamburg
and New York Customs had recently
been pa sed by the English Customs
and sold in London, though containing
up to 20 per cent OF clay and sand, and
was unfit for human consumption; and
whether. in view of the fact that the
price Of com mon teas had advanced so |
per cent, Of which the poor were the
largest consumed the Government
would insist on more rigid inspection |
Of all future importations to prevent a |
repetition Of the fraud.
Mr.. Hanbury rep Ted that the Board |
ot Customs have no means Of testing the |
accuracy OF the statement in the first
A full inqulryis being made,
and II II should appear advisable to alter
the existing regulations, or to increase
the number Of tea inspectors, the steps
will be taken at q. ce. In the
meantime, a circular has been issued to
the tea inspectors, directing them to
the existing regulations with |
special Care"
We are glad that our revelations have |
had such immediate and lar reaching
results, and as inquiry can only reveal
the truth OF every word of our indict
ment, we shall look to it that the
Government is held 10 ifs pIsdye Ot
reform.