ALLEGED WATER IN MILK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 38, 8 November 1919, Page 6

ALLEGED WATER IN MILK

MUNICIPAL DEPOT SUPPLIES.IN

QUESTION

Milk vendors gathered in force at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday to hear certain milk prosecutions before Mr. E. Page, 'B.M. On the informal ion of the, Public Health Department Frank Kotfclewoll was charged with offering for sale milk containing 29 per cent, of added water; George Brown tor offering for sale milk deficient in fats; and Oorrio and Maher for offering for salo milk containing (i per cent, of added water, and milk deficient in fats.

The case of Gorrio and Maher, in relation to the charge of selling milk adulterated with water, was taken first.

Mr. •'. K.'Prendeville, of the Crown Law Office, prosecuted, and Air. M. Myers defended.

Evidence was given on nehalf of the prosecution, that'a sample of milk taken from the defendants in July revealed the fact that it was deficient in solids, not fats. For -.tho defence Frederick Isaac Bottle, manager for Gome and Maher, said that up to July 21) the corporation had delivered tho milk to tli/jir shop, but since that dats. lliey had gone to tho depot to collect their milk, for the reason that they had found that the ■ milk when delivered contained water.

Samuel Sawyer Steele, m charge of the receiving depot of tho Municipal Milk Depot, said that during ,'luly last there had been some trouble with soiuo of tho supplies received from Fealhcrston—the milk not containing the proportion of solids, not fats it should have contained. Gorrio and Maher ceased to have their milk delivered by the depot immediately they received intimation of a. pending prosecution for selling watered milk. The milk which, (lie defendants received was of a quantity received from Featherston, which was known to bo deficient in solids, nut fats. Although the test showed this milk to be'deficient in solids it did not necessarily indicate that the milk contained water. However, it was known that the mi'k was poor, but there was a shortage, and no other supplies being available, the milk was issued to the vendors. The Featherston supply was bulked with other milk before being issued. It was possible that the milk contained 5 per tent, added water,

Mr. Myers: You did not advertise the fact iii/the papers. Considerable examination of tiio depot examiners followed, and .Mr. .Myers concluded with the remark: "Citizens must consider themselves fortunate that they only had (! per cent, water instead'of 10 per cent." For the prosecution Mi. Preudeville remarked that it was n lingular factor that on the dale the sample was taken from the defendants cither dimples were taken from other vendors, but they met the requirements of the iaw. After hearing further eviilci.ee. His Worship dismissed the information respecting addert water on the ground that it was-sold by the defendant as received from tho depia. The other cases were set down tor hearing on Monday afternoon.