A GREAT FRAUD DETECTED

New Zealand Mail, 15 February 1900, Page 4

A GREAT FRAUD DETECTED

test bottles showing enormous ERROR IN CALIBRATION.

Perhaps the ; greatest fraud which has yet been detected in connection with the industry has been just brought to light by the Government- chemist, Mr B. Or Aston.' Afrithe instigation of Mr Ruddick, this gentleman undertook the work of testing pipettes, test bottles, etc., for dairy factories in the'colony, and for this purpose receivecb glassware from -.several , factories and dealers. At the outset the bottles coming to hand were found to be fairly correct, but one lot has now reached Mr Astonwhich shows enormous error in their calibration, even up to 35 per cent. Thatfis, instead' of the graduations showing a cubic centimetre measurement, of 2, they actually cover a measurement of 2.7- c.c. This means that it would take 35 per cent, more butter fat than it should in order to secure a correct test. In some of the bottles tested the error was a minus one, though slight when compared with‘bottles graduated, to the other extreme. In ail, Mr Aston tested 321 Babcock test bottles, passing 29,8 and thirty-twd

pipettes, passing thirty. None of the glassware condemned, we might remark, was of either American or English manufacture. That the' fraud, has been detected is matter for congratulation to suppliers throughout the colony, who will come, we hope, to appreciate the work of the Agricultural Department in suc-h actions as these.

We have had an opportunity of watching Mr Aston’s work in testing the glassware, and have nothing but admiration to express for the careful and conscientious way in which the work is carried out, We doubt if similar work is conducted in a more thorough manner in any part of the world. In the first place, each bottle passed as correct,is given a number, which, is , etched on >fo the bulb of the bottle, together with > the signature of Mr Aston, as Government Chemist, and the date, so that every bottle passed Is indelibly stamped l with, the certificate to that effefct of the Government official,- On being sent; away from, the laboratory, ’ the' bottles" are accompanied by a certificate testifying to their accuracy. A record is also kept in the laboratory of each bottle, and of the exact shortcoming of each rejected one. Altogether the work is most thorough.

Some may argue that in- a co-opera-tive factory it does not really matter if great blunders are made in the testing, as the supplier gets everything there is in the business. Very true. Itis also a good thing for a poor maker, poor methods and poor machinery, as there is then good material for an overrun which, otherwise, would perhaps not exist. The principle is wrong whichever way you look at it. Ana when this fraud glassware is used by- a proprietary concern the wrong done suppliers is robbery of the worst kind. Suppliers throughout the colony should insist upon it that every Babcock test bottle in use should be passed as correct by the Government Chemist, and bear his signature. There is no excuse for th« matter being neglected, and we are sure that those factories which mean to work on the safest and best principles will see that none but approved glassware is used in connection with their work. The matter is one of vital importance to the success of the industry, and Mr Ruddick deserves the thanks of New Zealand dairymen for moving in the matter.