MILK VENDORS IN COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2904, 17 October 1916, Page 9

MILK VENDORS IN COURT

PROSECUTIONS BY CORPORATION INSPECTOR ALLEGED WATERING OF THE MILK

Fourteen prosecutions of milk veudors were eet down for hearing at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Three were heard, and the remainder adjourned till Friday. Decision was reserved in two of those heard, and in the one case decided the vendor was fined £2 and costs. Almost all of the cases were brought by an inspector rocontly.engaged hy the Wellington City .Corporation. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., heard the cases. Mr. P.. S. Macassey represented the Health Department, and Mr. M. Myers tho defendants, whose cases were heard. Herbert Standbridge was charged with having sold on July 21- and 25 milk which was not pure, and the Crown, reducing the accusation to plain English, alleged that 10 per cent, of water had been added. The defendant Stanbridge said that he had bought the milk from Colo, Crump, and Condy, and had sold it in the same condition as he had received it. His Worship: You did not test the milk in any way before you sold it? Stanbridge: I only put tho laotomotcr in. went on to say that he was a small storekeeper taking in about five gallons of milk per day, and that, respecting tho milk from which the Bample was taken, tho lactometer reading justified him in selling it. A score of samples had been taken from his shop previously, and all had been found satisfactory. Mr; Macassey said that the lactometer was an insufficient instrumont of precaution.' A Babcock tester could be got for 305., and the uso of it was a simplo matter. It was highly important that tho City should.have pure miik, and those who vended milk must 6ee that the milk they put out was pure. Mr. .Myers: What has the Department done for these men? It has never issued any instructions. \ Mr. Macassey': These c'aees have been going on for years. . His Worship said tho case was not a serious ono of its kind, and it was a first offence. Standbridge would be fined £2, with court costs 10s., analyst's foe 10s. 6d., solicitors foe £1 Is. ■ A second case against Stanbridge was withdrawn. ' In a caso brought by Inspector Lawrence" against Walter Galloway, on the ground that tho milk he sold contained added water, judgment was reserved owing to'a point raised by Mr; Myers to tho effect that there were conflicting' statements in .the certificate of analysis. A case brought by Inspector Lawrence against Cole, Crump, and Condy ivas then heard. The charge was that of soiling milk that was not pure. ■ Mr. Macassey said the analysis showed that tho sample- taken secured 9.1 per cent, of added water. The defendants had several times been warned. Colo, a member of the defendant firm, stated that they bought milk from a number of different farmers in tho Wellington province, and they sold the milk in the same condition as they received it. They tested milk with tho lactometer, and any doubtful milk was separated. They had endeavoured to get warranty from farmers, but had been unable to do so. Howover, they had securod some guarantees. Besides the lactometer, they used the Babcock test. Whero tho firm found that they were receiving milk not in accord with the standard, they' had asked the Department to investigate, and -as' a result threo farmers had been 'prosecuted and fined. He knew of nothing.more in the way of precaution bis firm could do. Ho had asked the Health Department if there was anything inoro that could bo done, and tho Department had said there was not. They had proposed to the City Council that the council should' put an inspector at their depot, nnd tho firm would pay his/salary. The council was paying their inspector up to £160 per year, and his firm was willing to pay £200 for a council official, at the depot. ' Mr. Myers: Do you think that would ensure puro milk to the City? Cole.: I camiotsay that it would make things any better, but it would show the City Council what-is going on. It would show them the position, Mr. Myers: Did the City Council accept your offer? ' Cole: No. His Worship: How many gallons per dav do you receive? Cole: Five to six hundred gallons. His Worship: And you say,, do you, that you uso the Babcock test once a week? i ■ Cole: Yes. His Worship:. What do you use on the intervening days? . . Cole: The lactometer. His Worship 6aid_lio would consider the case before giving a decision. Tho cases in general were then adjaurned till Friday.