SALE OF CREAM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 111, 7 April 1930, Page 7

SALE OF CREAM.

CHARGE AGAINST COMPANY MANAGER. WANGANUI, April 5. The hearing of the charge against Matthew Leo Rogers, manager of the Ruahine-Rangiwaiiia Dairy Co., of selling cream to the Maoriland Dairy Co., containing potassium bichromate, a preservative which, if taken in sufficiently largo quantities, would poison a human being, was continued in the Police Court this morning before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M.. Mr Cohen, with him, Mr G. Currie, appeared for the defence, and CliiefDetective J. Walsh conducted the case for the police. Alfred D. Collins, chief assistant analyst to the Federated Co-operative Factories of Taranaki, gave evidence as to the analysis carried out by Mr Veale, at which, he assisted. After several tests an analysis revealed the presence of a chromium salt—potassium bichromate. The proportion was 0.05 per cent. Butter made from cream containing it would be poisonous, said witness. William Donovan, Dominion Analyst, >said that on January 15 he received a bottle of cream from Dr. McLaurin, then Dominion Analyst, and was directed to analyse it for the presence of potassium bichromate. He found that it contained 0.05 per cent potassium bichromate.

Detective Walsh said that he personally delivered the bottle of which he had received from Mr Osboldstone, manager of the Maoriland factory, to the Dominion Arialyst at Wellington on January 15. He visited Rogers at Rangiwahia on January 17, and told him what Saywell had stated. Rogers declined to discuss the matter at all with him. This closed the police case, “It is for the Crown to prove that Rogers put this preservative in the cream,” said Mr Cohen. “It is quite obvious that there is trade jealousy in the matter. We find the Maoriland Company have taken four of his suppliers, and cream he would not accept was taken by them. He may have decided to try them out and see what cream they really would take.” Rogers said that he had been nearly nine years at the Ruahine factory, five years as manager. Before he sent cream to Wanganui he had rejected cream from two of his suppliers and sent it back to them. This cream was accepted by the Maoriland Company. “How do you know that?” questioned the Magistrate. Accused: The owners of tho cream told me.

Detective Walsh: Don’t you think it an underhand thing to do to send cream to a rival company in someone else’s name? —No, I wanted tangible evidence that I was right. Accused said that he decided to check the Maoriland system of grading, to give him evidence to show the inspectors. AMr Stent told accused jind the other directors that the first opportunity the Maoriland Dairy Company got he would be exposed. Detective Walsh: Why were you so interested in the Maoriland Company?—Because they took cream I rejected. . Why did you weigh Belaki’s cream? —Because Belaki, ,jun., said his father wanted it checked. I found it 51b different. I wanted a cheek test from the Maoriland Company, and I was carrying out a weight test myself.” Accused said that his assistant handled the preservative in the factory, but they were using none at the time and had not done so since April. “I borrowed a three-gallon can from a supplier named Robinson,” continued accused, “stamped No. 70 on lid, float and can, and used the can to send all four consignments to the Maoriland Company. I returned a can to Robinson, sent from the Maoriland Company after tho fourth consignment, but only the lid had the No. 70 stamped on it, not the can or the float.”

Asked if he would have accepted the cream he sent to the Madriland Company, accused said he would not. At this stage accused collapsed and was attended by Dr. Ritchie, of the Health Department. Mr Cohen said it was not fair to accused to go on with the cross-exam-ination, to which Detective Walsh agreed, and an adjournment was made until next Saturday.