A MILK CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 4

A MILK CONTRACT.

CLAIM AND COUNTER-CLAIMS (By TclccraDh.—Press Association.) Auckland, October 24. The Magistrate's Court was occupied this morning with tlio ease in which! Thomas Steele Duncan, farmer, sued .lolni Rcdferu and Partners, dairymen, of GreyLynn, for «Cl 4, said to bo duo for milk supplied under a contract. There was a counter claim for .COO damages alleged to have been sustained 1)>" the defendants in losing custom on account of the poorness of Iho quality of the milk. After hearing addresses of counsel Mr. lCet'tlo said it was obvious that where dairy people contracted for a supply of milk it was absolutely essential tlrat the supply should Ixs of the best quality. From tlio ovidoncc it was plain that: a largo quantitytof the milk in question was not lit for consumption when it was delivered by the fanner. He was boufld under his contract to deliver tlio milk of a quality sufficient to pass t'lio Government regulations, but it was clear the milk would not pass, for 011 September 5 tlio inspector took n samplo from the cans l?cfore they reached the dairy and upon analysis it was shown that' 22 per cent of water had been added. 111 his (Jlr. Kettle's) opinion tlio fact that the water was found on this particular occasion justified the presumption that it hod been watered all along, and he thought it likely that tlio wnter might' have been contaminated. Therefore, judgment would be in favour of liedfem and Co. Tlio question of damages wins held over.