AUCKLAND BUTTER CASE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14011, 16 September 1909, Page 3

AUCKLAND BUTTER CASE.

INFORMATION DISMISSED

THE GRADERS CRITICISED

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Sept. 15. The case against the New Zealand Dairy Association, charged with shipping to London butter containing more than 16 per cent, ot moisture was concluded at the Police Court this afternoon before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M. Sydney - Morris, factory manager for the defendant company at Pukekohe, stated that he had had 26 years' experience in Engjand and New Zealand. He was the oldest facvory manager in NewZealand. ' From the factory at Pukekohe tihey turned out about 800 tons per year. He regarded iree moisture as essential to good butter,, and it was not unusual to find small pockets of water varying in -sue from the smallest particle to the sise of a walnut. That was no new .thing in the manufacture ot butter. They had la. tasting officer (Mr. Stevenson)' who made almost daily examinations. These had occasionally been checked by the Government Analyst (Mr. Pond). The system followed in taking a t sample was to cut the butter down with a thread and then test the whole sample, and not a portion. During last season 102 tests were made, giving an average of 12.94 per cent, of moisture. At no time did any ot witness' tests show an abnormal amount of moisture. Of the 800 tons turned out by witness last year he did not think any of it at the very extreme would go beyond- 14 per cent, ot moit>turo: He refused to bejieve that thbutter could have contained anything like 16 per cent. The Magistrate said in view of the evidence, he did not consider the Crown had proved beyond all possibility of doubt that the butter in question contained more than 16 per cent, of moisture. The oase would therefore be dismissed. He adversely criticised ' - methods which had been adopted by the Government graders in taking only one sample and in not enabling defendants to either witness the taking of. the sample or check the analysis. He thought that where samples were being taken with a view to prosecution those interested should be given an opportunity oif being present.