TOO MUCH WATER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 9

TOO MUCH WATER

ANALYSIS OF BUTTER

THEEE CONVICTIONS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NELSON, 29th November,

A pound of butter was responsible for three informations for a breach of tho Pure Foods and Drugs Act. The butter, according to the information, contained 16.92 per cent, of moisture, a greater quantity than that permitted by the regulations. The parties concorned were the Waimea Dairy Cooperative Company, H. Coltman and Co., wholesale agents, and tho Workers' Co-operative, each of whom were charged with selling the butter. Mr. Fell, for the defendants, admitted all the facts. The Government j analysis, he said, showed that the quantity of moisture was 16.92 per cent., and the quantity allowed was 16 per cent, in connection with the testing of the butter for water content. Water was a free addition, and it was quite impossible in sampling one-third of a pound (as had been done^ to state whether that gave a reasonable sample for an appreciable quantity. One of his clients had analysed one-third of a pound of the same butter, which showed 16,06 per cent., while samples from the same churning showed 15.3 per. cent, of water. In reply to the Magistrate, the senior sergeant said he knew of no facts which would suggest thore was ground for a substantial penalty. The' Magistrate said there was no suggestion of wilful fraud on the public. He held that both principal and agent were liable. As far as the Workers' Co-operative was concerned he could not see what steps they could reasonably have taken to guard themsolves from committing an offence, jtt was not like selling underweight butter where there was an opportunity to weigh it.

The Dairy Company was fined 40s, with costs 17s 6d, and the other two defendants 10s each, with costs 7s.