“YOU’VE GOT OFF LIGHTLY,” SAYS S.M.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 9

“YOU’VE GOT OFF LIGHTLY,” SAYS S.M.

S GALLONS OF WATER IN 35 GALLONS OF MILK.

“You’ve got off lightly; it’s a most .extraordinary thing,” remarked Mr H. Y. Widdowson. S.M., in the Magistrate ft -Court this morning, when fining a milkman £5 and costs, on a charge of having •sold milk containing over 17 per cent of water. The defendant was Herbert Edward Brandon, who was charged with having, on March 14 last, sold milk which did not comply with the standard, and that on the same date he added water to the milk. Mr P. K. Hall appeared for defendant, and entered a plea - of, guflty to bqth charges. Counsel said defendant had no dairy of his own. but he went round milk from farmers in the Halswell district. He left all the milk at the dairy of his brother-in-law. In reply to the Magistrate, Mr Brown, who appeared for the Department, said the test showed a deficiency ;of over 17 per cent. The Magistrate: That means five gallons of water in thirty-five gallons of milk. Mr Hall: That is sq, sir: we are quite at a loss to know how the water got into the milk. The Magistrate: That’s an extraordinary amount of water. In evidence, defendant said he had been dealing in milk "practically all his life, and he had never been in any trouble previously. Neither he nor his brother-in-law could - account for the presence of the watfer in the milk. Attest at Lincoln College in October showed that his milk was above standard. The inspector .said that there had never been any charge ‘against defendant before. „ ■The Magistrate, reiterated that it was a most extraordinary: thing. The onus was on defendant, ahd -he would be fined £5 and costs • Ts, together with analyst’s fee, lfis fid, and solicitor's fee, £3 3s, on the more serious charge, and was ordered to pay costs and solicitors’ fee, £1 Is, on the othet> “I have taken into consideration all the circumstances, and you have got off lightly” were the Magistrate's concluding remarks.