WATER IN BUTTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 November 1926, Page 5

WATER IN BUTTER.

-BREACH OF THE ACT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON, .Monday. A pound of butter was responsible for three informations for a breach of the Pure Food and Drugs Act. The butter according to the information contained 10.02 per cent, of moisture, a greater quantity than that permitted by the regulations. The parties concerned were the Waimea Dairy Co-op-erative Company, 11. Coltham aiid Co., wholesale agents, and the Workers’ Cooperative, each of whom, were all charged with selling the butter. Mr Fell, for the defendants, admitted all the facts. The Government analysis, he said, showed that the quantity of moisture was 10.92 per cent, and the quantity allowed was 10 per cent, in connection with the testing of the 'butter for water contents. Water was a free addition, and it was quite impossible in sampling one-third of a pound (as had been done) to state whether that gavo a reasonable sample for an appreciable quantity. One of his clients had analysed one-third of a pound of the same butter which showed 10.06 while samples from the sarnie churning showed 13.3 of water. In reply to the magistrate, the seniorsergeant- said he knew of no lacts which Avould suggest there was ground for a substantial penalty. The magistrate said-tliere was no suggestion of wilful fraud on the public. He held that both principal and agent were liable. As far as the Workers’ Co-operative was concerned he could not see what steps they could have reasonably taken to guard themselves from committing an offence. It was not like selling underweight butter where there was an opportunity to weigh it. The Dairy Company was fined 40/with costs 17/6, and the other two defendants 10/- each with costs 7/-.