MILK ADULTERATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2489, 16 June 1915, Page 4

MILK ADULTERATION

WHO'S TO BLAME?.

MILK VENDORS" DISABILITIES

Many interesting sidelights on the milk trade were given in the Magistrate's, Court yesterday, when four moro Gity milk vendors were prosecuted for selling adulterated milk. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr. V. It. Meredith appeared for the Health Department, and Mr.. A, W. Blair for the. defence.

The most interesting case heard was that in which Francis E. Green was charged with selling milk below the required standard. .

'Mr. Andrews, a Government analyst, said that from the tests he had carried out with dofendent's milk' lie had found it_was unsound' and unsafe for use. The milk was absolutely unsafe for tlie feedingof young children. ".To Mr. Blair: As far as the richness of ; the milk analysed was concerned it was very good. Witness was then subjected. to a lengthy cross-examination by counsel regarding the respective tests as to whether milk was stale or not.

i "The Department sets up a standard Tyhich makes it commercially impossible for;the vendor of milk to ..coinply with," said *Mr. Blair, and ho added that the milk got by defendant at Featherston did not sometimes reach,. Wellington until noon..

: Witness: I maintain that the milk vendors of Wellington' should form an association and cater to the public instead of the vendors up the line from phom they purchase their milk.

■' Mr. Blair : Don't you consider that the Method of the transport of milk to Wellington by the .Railway Department U unsatisfactory?— Witness: Yes.

Witness further admitted that this ■was tho first instance of a prosecution for stale milk.

"Witness proceeded to explain that the prosecutions had been commenced as a result. of complaints received by the Department. Some Plunket nurses had brought samples .of milk to the Department's laboratory and complained that it had- made children who .had been" fed with it sick. As the samples had no preservatives in it, the conclusion had been, come to that it was stale: The two methods (previously explained) - for ascertaining whether the milk was stale had been found to be perfectly satisfactory. .Other samples of milk had been brought from the Hospital, which it was stated had made the children there sick. The Department, considered that the onus was on the vendors to supply milk. that complied with the requirements'of the Act.

In outlining the defence, Mr. Blair explained the conditions under which milk was brought down from Feaiher61011'. 'The morning's milk came down by a -train which arrived here at midday the same day, and was kept in hygienic conditions and was delivered to the following morning. The afternoon's milk at Featherston did not reach the -City retailers until Thursday. The:milk was therefore 24 or 36 hours old" when it reached the publio. "The Railway- Department takes no care of. the milk," said Mr. Blair. "It is just in an" uninsulated van and 1 brought down here at the Railway Department's own sweet will.". / . .; ...

Mr."'Meredith' replied that all Mr. Plair's remarks were quite outside the point. It did not matter a jot whether it was difficult for the vendors to get their milk down from the country; all tho Court had to deal, with was the seotion under the Act. The defence practically .admitted that the milk was 86 liciirs' old, while it admitted that the train conditions were bad. In face of tjiis the> common ■ sense of the vendors would: tell them they ran a risk. The analysis had; shown defendant's milk to be hopelessly bad, therefore he should be- convicted under the -Act. Tho Magistrate intimated he would reserve his decision. ' . "ANOTHER CASE. Another similar case was that in which Ellen Boyd was charged with selling milk belo-.v the required standard, and winch was partially heard on Monday. In reviewing the evidence for the defence, Mr. Meredith said that it had disclosed the worst 'form of. offence, in that the milk sold by defendant .to the inspector was sour and stale. When the milk was put under tests by tho Government analyst, it was found to be hpth unsound and unsafe for use. f :-:Mr. H. F. O'Leary," who appeared for 'defendant; 1 submitted 'that the'prosecution must-fail. Defendant -was not merely charged'with selling adulterated milk, hut with; selling adulterated milk and wot informing the purchaser the nature of the adulteration. The evidence had shown that when Inspector Cowdrey purchased the milk defendant- had told him that she assumed'the milk was a day old. Miss Boyd had therefore done all that was necessary under the Act., Mr. Meredith replied that although the facts as Related by Mr. O'Leary must -go to mitigate the penalty, yet the offence remained. The ■ Magistrate agreed that the 'Act must be strictly fulfilled. The imposition of a penalty was, on Mr. O'Leary's suggestion, deferred until the other cases wero decided. OTHER- OASES. ; Decision, was also reserved in the case of Donald Cook, charged: (1) Selling milk containing added water; (&) selling milk below the required standard. •Sir Kenneth Douglas appeared for Cook. vThe case , against Harold F. Walker of. selling milk confining added wator had to be further adjourned to Friday, owing to the pressure of Court business. Mr. P. W. Jackson'is defending the case. . •..