WATERED MILK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17087, 16 July 1926, Page 2

WATERED MILK.

A PLEA OF GUILTY. ELEVEN PER CENT. WATER ADDED. An admission that the milk he retailed on May 2b contained 11 per cent, of added wafer was made in the Magistrate's Court this morning by Charles Cains, who was charged with selling watered milk. Defendant-, who was represented by Mr. Whitehead, pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick so id that the regulations held that milk sold to the public should contain not less than 8 5-1 G parts of milk solids and should not contain added water. On May 25 Inspector Holder had taken a sample of milk, and forwarded it- to Wellington for analysis. This showed that there was 11 P er cent-, of added water. Defendant. when questioned by the inspector, said that- the milk came from his own cows, but he understood that now the defendant contended the milk camo from someone else’s herd, and was retailed by’ him. EXPLANATION FOB DEFENDANT. Mr. Whitehead said the defendant had pleaded guilty to a breach,, but- very little- blame could he attached to him. He was a- milk vendor and had a few cows of lies own. He had been selling milk for fifteen years, and this was the first occasion on which there was any suggestion of anything being wrong. The offence was eommitteed during the severe drought and defendant- had had to purchase milk from other men. On tlie occasion when the offence was committed defendant had taken his cart to a neighbor’s and’ filled up the second can in tho cart. He had not- put any water in the milk, nor had he been near any water after lie got the neighbor’s milk. Defendant had gone out- of the way to see the inspector, which showed that he was confident his milk was all right. If he had watered his milk himself he eould easily 7 have got out of the way of the inspector, for he saw him some distance away. He was helpless under the circumstances, and ho was sure the Majgstrato would impose only a small penalty. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick : Perhaps Mr. Whitehead! would inform the Court whether the doin' is registered? Mr. Whitehead': Yes. MAGISTRATE’S WARNING. The Magistrate: Milk is a necessity, and many of our children live, on it for months.. " Poor milk means heavy mortality amongst- children, and the law recognises that fact. There was no evidence to say whether the milk was defendant's own milk or whether it had been purchased, but in either case the legal position was unaltered. The defendant had to take the risk of prosecution if he chose to take milk from various sources. There were extenuating circumstances, however, but the Court had to protect the public and the lives and' health of the children. He would nne the defendant- £6 and costs, but he wanted it to be understood 1 that he took a serious view of these matters, and if any more eases came before him he would have no hesitation in imposing the maximum penalty of £SO.