WATER IN MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23425, 15 August 1939, Page 15

WATER IN MILK

FLAW FOUND IN COOLER CHARGES AGAINST FARMER COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE "Defendant's past record is too good to suggest that he caused water to be added to the milk deliberately," remarked Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Otahuhu yesterday, when a Papatoetoe farmer, Frank Norman Bell (Mr. C. J. Lovegrove), pleaded guilty to charges of samples of his town milk supply containing added water and being deficient in fat solids. Four charges were preferred. Senior-Sergeant Daly said samples had been taken at defendant's farm on April 24. One contained 16 per cent of added water and the other 18 per cent. Mr. Lovegrove said tho gravity of the position was realised by defendant, who had been worried considerably by the proceedings. He employed labour, and was not present at the milking. He made investigations when the position was reported, and found that ther„e was a small leak in tho cooler. He also found that one of the milkers had been in the habit of pulling off the hose connection to get a drink of water, and the connection had dripped in consequence. Mr. McKean said he appreciated the position, but farmers who employed labour had a duty to maintain their plant in thorough order. Defendant was fined £3 and costs on tho first charge, convicted and ordered to pay costs on the second charge, and ordered to pay costs on tho other two counts.