WATERING MILK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 2

WATERING MILK.

CASE FOR OPINION. Tho following questions and answers aro from tho "Now Zealand Dairyman":— (1) Is thero any law in New Zealand against "excessivo watering" of milk delivered at a butter or ciieeso factory? Yes: under tho Dairy Industry Act of 19rs watering milk is treated as. adulteration, and is punishable under that Act. (2) Havo directors of a dairy factory any right to enter on a shareholder's property to seo if ho is "excessively watering" his milk? No: unless such power is specially conferred on directors by tho Articles of Association, or by the regulations under which tho factory is worked, and which havo been assented to by tho shareholders. (3) Havo tho directors tho right to refuse such milk "excessively watered," and can they instruct their manager to refuso same? Y.es: tho directors are tho cxecutivo of the wholo body of shareholders, who aro mutually banded together to supply milk to be manufactured into cheeso or butter, and a supplier who is watering his milk is not supplying what he agreed to supply, namely, "milk, for milk and added water is not milk. (4) If a charge of excessively watering his milk is made and proved to tho satisfaction of directors of a registered dairy company, what power havo tho directors to deal with such a case? They may refuso to tako tho milk, and they have an action for damages against tho supplier. But the factory whence this inquiry comes must bo miles behind the times, for if they wero up to dato they would havo their Barnaul's percentago lactometer at work every morning. This will not only (ell whether milk is watered, but it gives the actual percentago of water added. It also enables the manager to make a correct report of his daily working, which ho exhibits each day for the inspection of his employers thus: Milk received 20,0001b. Less per cent, of added water. Butter-fat ... 8001b. Butter mado 9201b.