WATER IN MILK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 20

WATER IN MILK.

A DAIRYMAN FINED. AUCKLAND, September 3. “People do not want to buy rain water; they can get that for nothing at home,” said ' • F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court, when Frederick G. Clark was charged with selling milk containing 14 per cent, of added water, and with selling milk containing less than 8.5 per cent, of milk solids, other than milk fat. The Health Department’s inspector stated that he had examined the milk. It was raining on the morning in question. Defendant was formerly a dairyman at Avondale, and said he had never been in trouble before. When the milk was examined he was in bed ill. and left the milking in charge of another man, who had since left the place. His milk had been recommended by the Plunket nurse. Counsel asked the magistrate to deal with the matter leniently, as defendant had now given up his farm. A fine of £5, with costs, was imposed. SOUTHERN DAIRY FACTORIES. TUTURAU. The annual meeting of the Tuturau Dairy Factory Company was held recently, Mr C. L. Humphries presiding over an attendance of 17 shareholders. The report stated: Output of cheese—■ 1924-5, 134 tons 16cwt 2 qr; 1925-26, 144 tons 13cwt 2qr 221 b. Output of butter—--1924-5, 57671 b; 1925-6, 42401 b. Sup. pliers’ payments—l 924-5, # ls 6d; 1925-6, Is Bd. The season’s disposal of cheese was as follows:—September-October, to Wright, Stephenson, and Co. at 9§d per lb; November-December, to New Zealand Producers’ Association at 9sd per lb; January to end of season, to Wright, Stephenson and Co., at BJd per lb. The whole of the surplus butter was consigned through the New Zealand Producers’ Association, and hns realised approximately Is lid per lb. The season from a dairying point of view was a good one. The cheese market maintained a good price, the result being that a very, good pay-out for the season of Is 8a per lb butter-fat has been made. Thfe w—working of the factory has been carried out harmoniously by the factory manager (Mr G. M'Millan) and bis staff. After paying for all improvements and expenqgi there remains a credit balance in MM bank of £lO3 Is 3d.

The report was adopted. The directors recommended that a dividend of 5 per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company be declared. Messrs D. Collie and John O’Rourke were elected to the directorate, and Mr Humphries was re-elected chairman. CANTERBURY t .4 AND PRO OUCE MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, September 8. The week hae been a eorry one for potato holders. The market has tumbled in a manner that has no parallel in recent years. Potatoes bought in June for September at £8 6s a ton were resold to-day at £3 15s. This probably represents the two poles of the movement, but many thousands of pounds are represented in a decline from #7 to £4. The losses are not borne wholly ly local operators, as Sydney buyers have contracted for several thousand tons that are showing a loss of at least 60s a ton, others more. The local market has been depressed throughout the season by the accumulation of potatoes at southern ports. It is only during this last week that this accumulation of white potatoes has practically disappeared. This has been brought about by the shipment per the Kurow last week from Timaru and Lyttelton of 1200 sacks, and per the Waipori thi3 week of 5000 sacks. At tha moment Sydney is not responding to local offers. Operators apparently have bought forward as heavily as the market can absorb. The Whangape is due to sail on Wednesday Bext for Sydney. The potato market has monopolised all attention, and beyond oats being firm, at recent quotations of 4s 3d and 4s, f.0.b., s.i. for A’s and B’s respectively, there is really little to report These are southern prices, local being worth up to 4s 6d. A few lines of wheat are floating around at 8s 6d to 9s a bushel, but buyers are standing off at this price. The seed market is quiter again after a brief activity in the retail business. Still an area of barley, also of peas, is being grown on contract at 4s 6d a bushel, on trucks.