WATER IN MILK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 205, 31 August 1933, Page 9

WATER IN MILK.

PUKEKOHE FARMER FINED. SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC. "If a man sells milk not up to the standard, or if it is deficient in solids, the liability is an absolute one, said Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Pukekolie Police Court yesterday, when fining W. Alexander, a Pukekohe farmer, for sellin<r watered milk. Two charges were preferred against defendant, for whom Mr. E. G. Foster pleaded guilty. The health inspector, _ Mr. T. C. Thompson, said an analysis showed a sample of milk contained 15 per cent of added water, thus making it deficient in 6 °Counsel stated that any added water found its'way into the milk as the result of a defective cooler. He produced the cooler, attached to which were two 35ft lengths of hose fitted to a screwed coupling. A elight variation of a thumbscrew would allow tlie water to escape and drip into the can over which the cooler was suspended. Defendant commenced milking before daylight, using a candle in the shed, and it was not possible "to detect the defect. He assured the Court that water was not deliberately added to the milk, as defendant had ample to fulfil his contract for town supply. . "In this case the main consideration is the public," said the magistrate. There never yet was a case of adultei ated milk that some of the gear did not leak or some rival added the water. The public had to be protected, hence the statute. Adulterated milk might mean serious consequences to children and invalids,, he added. On the charge of selling adulterated milk, defendant was fined £4 with £1 0/8 costs, and on a charge of selling milk deficient in solids he was convicted and ordered to pay 10/ costs.