WATER IN MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23067, 18 June 1938, Page 18

WATER IN MILK

VENDORS PROSECUTED FINES RANGE UP. .TO £lO COMMENTS BY MAGISTRATE Charges alleging the sale of milk containing added water and making it below the standard required by tho Sale of Food and Drugs Act were preferred against three defendants in the Police Court yesterday. Two vendors app'eared on summons, and a business firm was also charged, fines being imposed by Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in all cases. Six charges were admitted by George Joseph Pickens (Mr. J. K. Johnston), from whose float, Sub-Inspector Fox said, samples were taken on two separate mornings. Tests made by the Health Department revealed 19 per cent of added water in one sample, 10 per cent in another and 4 per cent in a third. Defendant had not come under any special notice, and had only onco previously been in Court, five years ago. Case for Defendant Counsel said the milking was left entirely to a paid milker with whom defendant had experienced trouble. Defendant was unaware of any deficiency in the quality of the milk he was delivering. "Defendant takes a prominent part [in public life, and feels his position I very keenly," Mr. Johnston added, j "He has been buying 10 gallons of milk ! daily, the quality of which is much | above fequired standard, and I subi mit that if there were any intention lof adding water it would have been j mixed with this milk rather than with | his own." i A fine of £lO was imposed, with j costs totalling £3 10s 6d, the magisI trate remarking that had it been proved that the employee had been responsible he would have been liable to some of the penalty. Three charges were dismissed. Separte Tests at a Store A charge admitted by Frank Walter (Reynolds was that he sold milk containing 6 per cent of added water. Mr. Fox said that had it not been for separte tests being taken at a store in Karangahape Road the supplier responsible for the affected milk might never have been traced. The store was supplied by several vendors. Defendant said he had been & supplier for 20 years, and it was the first occasion that any serious fault had been found with his milk. He was unable to account for the deficiency. A fine of £4 was imposed, with costs, £1 os 6d. A Milk Bar Case In a case in which Adams, Bruce, Limited, admitted selling milk below standard, Mr. Fox saici a test was taken from a milk bar in Karangahape Road, and the company blamed an assistant for neglect. . Mr. Eliot, for tho company, said tlio milk was obtained from a licensed supplier and placed in a freezer. The company had since terminated its contract with the supplier. "Obviously such companies are in the hands of suppliers and employees and they would not tolerate anything of this sort," said the magistrate. . Ihe matter could be remedied by obtaining a written guarantee from suppliers. A fine of £2 was imposed, with costs £1 3s 6d.