DUTCH MILK.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13942, 30 June 1909, Page 3

DUTCH MILK.

SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND. A case involving thu delivery of Dutch condensed milk came before Mr Justice bim, at the Supreme Court last week. It was tiiat of David lvlatzer, head of an Amsterdam firm of merchants, v. L. Caselberg and (Jo. for £l/y Os 3d, alleged to bo due on bills of exchange. There was an alternative claim for 2UU cases of Meadow Jjrand milk, sold and delivered. Defendants, a \vellington firm, coun-ter-claimed for £2H6 SJs 5d special damages, and £"2uJ general damages lor uon-mlnhneiifc of tlic conditions as to the quality of the milk supplied. Defendant met piain'tiU iii tendon, and arranged witn JLum to become agent for the milk. The nullc, lie said, was quite equal to any- other brand in tne niai'Kct. lie said the milk was partially sKimmed, but that that was tne case with all such milks.

A. tin of the milk was put in evidence. The label on it winch stated tnat the milk was " prepared from the best cows' niilk," that tlie animals of its origin browsed "in tlie richest pastures of Holland/ 1 j " tliat tiie linl'i excels in every respect the fresh milk"; and "only luiest cane sugar is added." There were also the additional words "Purest Milk. ' Defendant said the milk sold we I ', but in December, 191)6, he-ascertained from a. fellow merchant in .New bouth "Wales, with whom he tried to do business, that after analysis of a sample tin it would not do for New South "Wales, as it contained no butter-fat. The hrm wrote to witness, when he complained about the milk, assuring him that there wore no "annoying ' substances in the milk. It was at; good as full cream milk, and container; caseine, which was a valuable foo.i substance. He was prosecuted for selling the milk and was hned £l, and had to pay costs £3 10s for sell hi!/ the milk. It was condemned bv ttu Customs on arrival, and had to be sent back to Amsterdam. It was analrscc 1 , and found to be not partially skimp « 1 as stipulated, but absolutely skimmed milk, lacking the 2-i per cent, of bu - ter-fat and 9 per cent, of solißs. "Witness spent a large sum in advertising the milk, and it was on the market a year before he was prosecuu.J His gross profit on the milk was 2s a case of four dozen tins, the casi.-s being retailed at 18s to 19s a case.

J)r M'Laurin's evidence as Government Analyst was to the effect th.it he examined the Meadow brand ih;!k and found it to contain 1.45 per cent, of fat, equivalent to 5 per cent, uf the

original milk before it was condensed. It was therefore a skim milk —a l->w grade milk. The standard was :i ■"> per cent, of fat; under the old Act it was 2.5 per ceiit. Reparation w mid not take all the butter fat out. rl.._! it contained 2.45 per cent, of fab it would not have passed the stand >r '. There was no standard for condens.-tl milk. Skimmed condensed milk was perfectly wholesome, but it did not contain* the valuable food constituents for infants for example. The milk in question was a, shade better than separated milk.