UNDER-GRADE MILK

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 20 November 1923, Page 5

UNDER-GRADE MILK

LOCAL VENDOR FINED. Eric Harold Watson, milk vendor (Mr S. I. Fitch) appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morningto answer a charge of having supplied milk under the standard required by the Pure Foods Act. Mr Fitch said defendant had been 17 months in business in Waimate. There was no suggestion in the present case of the milk having been tarn pered with. As a matter of fact the solids were ftbove the percentage required by law. The heavy rains in the spring had had the effect of promoting a luxuriant mushy growth in the grass, with the result that the cows were, in most cases, in poor eon dition with a consequent thinning of the milk. It was well known that, the tests were low throughout the district. Since the information in the present charge had been made, defendant had had his milk tested in the local factory and the result had been entirely satisfactory. The Magistrate remarked that the trouble in regard to the low tests in the spring was experienced throughout New Zealand.

Sergt. Kidd stated that the Inspector (Mr. Menzies) had purchased the milk from defendant’s cart. Before making the purchase he had told Watson who he was. The Inspector had approached Watson in Febuary last in regard to the poor quality of hia milk. The Magistrate said it was necessary that the Act be enforced in tho interests of the public, and in particu lay of the children. The milk must, be maintained to the minimum standard at which it was fit for human food. In the North Island, where these sort of cases were more common, substantial fines were imposed. Fortunately, in South Canterbury the number of prosecutions was small. Defendant would be convicted and fined £2 and cosis. FACTORY TESTS. To the Editor. Sir. —1 have taken two samples of Mr Watson’s milk—on the 2th October and the 16th November. These samples 'tested 3.6 and 3.7 respectively, which is in excess of the Government standard. The cause of the milk being below the standard iu October " was probably due to Yjlie fact that the fet'd was very wet and contained an excessive amount of moisture. 1 find that the majority of cows tested this month show a marked increase in the quality of milk compared with -west month. —I am, etc., J. V. RIACH, Secretary, Waimate Herd-Testing Assn