WATER IN MILK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 228, 26 September 1930, Page 9

WATER IN MILK.

FARMER FINED £20. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S TESTS. "A MISUNDERSTANDING." Tests made bya health inspector, Mr. N. F. Furness, of milk supplied to a factory-by Charles Davidson, proved that 33 per cent of water had been added. Davidson appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt; S.M., in the Police Court this morning, and pleaded guilty. He was lined £20. ~ ~ Sub-Inspector Shanahan saicl the case was rather unusual. "We made a proper job of it, said Mr. E. Inder, who appeared for defendThe health inspector said he first made unofficial tests of six cans of milk. On the first day he found 33 per cent of water, on the second 34 per cent. Hie next day there was a whole can ol milk missing. It meant that there were two cans of water to four cans of milk. The result was that the factory had water right through its supply. _ "Davidson lias been 3» years in tlie dairy business and lias never been before the Court," said Mr. Inder. "Davidson knew nothing about the water in the , milk until lie was told by the inspector. The position was that his son and another youth worked the milking machines. In order to clean the pipes water was sent through them and this emptied into a vat. There had been a misunderstanding, with the result that ono thought the other had emptied the vat, but this had not been done. That is the explanation." "And that happened every day for a week," remarked the magistrate. "What's the fine for. this offence?" "Fifty pounds," said the inspector. "Well, there was 33 per cent of water in tlie milk, so he is fined 33 per cent of the maximum fine." Mr. Inder: This man is only in a small way. He is just a struggling farmer, sir. Mr. Hunt: We can't have people selling inilk like that. After further argument about the fine Davidson was fined £20 and costs.