TOO MUCH WATER

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 56, 30 November 1926, Page 10

TOO MUCH WATER

POUND OF BUTTER LEADS TO THREE FINES ' By Telegraph-.—Press association. Nelson, November 29. A pound of butter was responsible for three' informations alleging breach of the Food and Drugs Act. The but-* ter, according to one information, contained 16.92 per cent, -of - moisture, a greater quantity than that permitted by the regulations. The parties concerned were the Waimea Dairy Cooperative Company, H. ■ Coltman and Co. (wholesale agents), and the-Work-ers’ Co-operative Association, all charged with selling the butter. Mr Fell, counsel for defendants, admitted all the facts. A Government* analysis showed that , the quantity, of moisture was 16.92 per cent, ahd the quantity allowed was 16 per .cent; He said that' it was quite impossible, in sampling one-third of a pound (as had been done) to state Whether that gave a reasonable sample. One of his clients had analysed a third of a pound of the same butter, which showed 16.06 per cent., while samples from the same churning showed 15.3 per cent, of water. , „ In reply to the ■ Magistrate, the Sen-ior-Sergeant said that he knew of no facts which would suggest that there was ground for a substantial penalty. The Magistrate said that there was no suggestion of wilful fraud on the public. He held that both principal* and agent. were liable. So far as the Workers’ Co-operative Association was concerned, he could not see what, steps they could have reasonably taken to guard themselves from committing • an offence. It was not like selling underweight butter, where there was an opportunity to weigh it. _ The dairy company was fined 40s. with costs 17s. • 6d., and :the other.two defendants 10s. each, with costs