HC Deb 28 February 1895 vol 31 cc44-5
ADMIRAL FIELD

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a report in The Times of the 19th instant of a prosecution before Mr. de Rutzen, in the Westminster Police Court, of a grocer named David Jones for selling so-called "adulterated cocoa" at 1s. per pound, which was alleged to be composed of 50 per cent. starch and sugar and 50 per cent. of cocoa, the defendant being fined 10s. and 14s. 6d. costs; and, whether, in view of the fact that the said was sold at its true value, and was of precisely similar quality to that supplied by Her Majesty's Government to the seamen of Her Majesty's Fleet as "soluble cocoa," which is so manufactured at Deptford by the Admiralty, and consists of 25 per cent. sugar, 25 per cent. sago flour, with 50 per cent. of cocoa, he will be pleased to remit the penalty imposed upon the aforesaid David Jones?

MR. ASQUITH

I have inquired into this case, and I find that the offence for which the defendant was fined was for selling an article not of the nature and quality demanded by the purchaser. The purchaser asked for cocoa, and not for "soluble cocoa," and in the opinion of the Magistrate, from which I see no reason to differ, he was entitled to have cocoa. I find on inquiry from the Admiralty, that they supply to the men in the Navy cocoa in two forms: one is ordinary cocoa, which forms the usual ration and is made of pure cocoa and sugar only; the other is "soluble cocoa," which is only issued as a special ration (to men oil duty at night, or under circumstances of unusual exposure), and this contains a percentage both of sugar and arrowroot.

ADMIRAL FIELD

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether an offence has really been committed in this case, the article sold being identical in substance with an article manufactured by the Government, and if an offence has been committed, will he ask the Law Officers of the Crown whether the First Lord of the Admiralty ought not to be indicted for supplying goods of this class to the Navy?