Watery Butter.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 November 1912, Page 2

Watery Butter.

COMPANY FINED

Tho Glen Oraua Daily Company which earned mild i'anio for its experiments in pasteurising and did great service to tho dairying industry thereby, figured as defendant in a prosecution tried at the Palmorston Police Court on Monday. Tho company was charged with Laving, on October 12th, attempted to export butter containing more than 1(> per cent of water. Mr Fletcher, solicitor for the conipnny, .stated that the company had taken every care to have the moisture content correct. They could not explain the high percentage in this case. The Department had found in a consignment of butter from tho defendants 17 per cent, of moisture, whereas the amount allowed by law was 10 per cent. Immediately the company heard of this they had recalled the whole shipment and had it tested, and. according to their test, the moisture content anno out at 100 per cent. They woiflcl n.se every care in tin . Future. This was the first time they had bsvri so charged. Mr Thomson, £.M.. said irtis >ns the first case of the kind lie had known in this district, although there bad been similar prosecutions in other parts of the dominion. Mr Jacobs, instructed by Mr (Jwilliin. of the Dairying Division, said the Department wove anxious fo protect the industry. Tn Auirusk they hart circularised tho dairy companies staling that, owing to the large amount of exports, it was not possible to test all tho produce that was going through, but a test would 1)0 taken of each lino. The companies were asked to assist the Department in every way possible, but were informed that they would bo prosecuted if the moisture content exceeded the limit. Shortly after that the Department found that a line of butter from Oleu Oroua Co. contained 15.9 per cent, of water, and consequently tho company wero win rued that the moisture was near the limit. On September 2-lth a consignment tested 10 per cent, of moisture, and the company were again warned, but on Octogor 12th the water ran up to 17.8 per cent. All the Department desired to do was to show the companies in tin's district that the intention of the regulations was to be carried out. They did not wish to press for a heavy penalty. The maximum lino wa.s £50 and no minimum was stipulated.

His Worship remarked on the fact that two warnings had been given that the limit was being approached, and he imposed ;i fine of C'J. with Court costs 7s, and solicitor's fee £3 3s.