BUTTER & WATER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1607, 26 November 1912, Page 8

BUTTER & WATER.

CASE BROUGHT TO' COURT. (By Telecraph.—Press Association.) Palmerston North, November 25. In the Magistrate's Court the Department of Industries and Conunerco proceeded against the Glen Oroua Co-opera-tive Übiry Company, Ltd., for a breach of the regulations in forwarding a consignment of butter containing an excess of water. Mr. Fletcher appeared for the company, who pleaded guilty. Ho stated that the company had taken every care to have the moisture content correct, and could not explain the high'percentage in this ease. The Department had found in the consignment from defendants 17 pel cent.' of moisture, whereas the amount: allowed by law was 16 per font. .Immediately the company heard of this they recalled the whole shipment and had it tested. According to their test the moisture content came out at per cent. Mr. A.D. Thomson, S.M., said this was the first case of the .kind which he had known in this district, although there had been similar prosecutions in other parts of the Dominion. Mr. Jacobs said the Department were anxious to protect the industry. In Aitgust they had circularised the dairy companies, stating that owing to the' large amount of exports it was not possible to test all the produce going through, l.ut a test would be taken of each line. The companies were asked to assist the Department in every way possible, but were informed that they would be prosecuted if the moisture content, exceeded th'e limit. Shortly after that the Department found that a lino of butter.from the Glen Oroua Company contained .15.9 per, cent, of water, and consequently the com-' fkny was warned thai: tho moisture was near the limit. On. September 21 tho consignment tested contained lC'por cent, moisture, and the company was again warned. Hat on October 12 the water ran up to 17.8 per coal. All the Department dc?v.r?d to do was to show Ihe companies in this district that tho intention of tho regulations was to be carried out. They did not wish to press for a heavy penalty.His Worship remarked on I lie fact that two warnings had been given thnl: tho limit was being approached, and he imposed a line of £2. with court costs.