SALE OF CREAM

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1930, Page 3

SALE OF CREAM

CHARGE UNDER FOOD AND DRUGS ACT.

WANG AN OM. April 4

The police to-day proceeded against Matthew Leo Rcdgoivs, manager of tie vangiwahia Dairy Company, on a barge of attempting to sell cream to he Alaoriland Dairy Cony any which •outained potassium bichromate, which is prohibited under the Food and Drugs

0... Potassium bichromate, which is used as a preservative, is an irritant

poison. Detect Re J. Walsh said that the butter industry was a competitive one. The representatives of the Alaoriland Dairy Company, a private concern when in the Rnirdtikpi district.' were successful in getting several farmers to supply their factory. Those suppliers were previously suppliers to the Run-bine-Bangiwahia Co-operative Butter Factory at Rangiwahia. The defendant Rogers was the manager of the Rangiwahia factory.

Describing the method of testing ‘elm ••ream. Detective AValsli said a sin ill sample was taken from each can and boot until ten (lavs’ samples were a-nd-•hle. Then a test, was made of H e accumulated samples. ■ To . keen tb" •uimnlcs from deterioration during rim neriod of ten (lavs, a small amount of preservative, potassium bioLrrinyit.p. o" as it, was commonly known, bichromate of potash, vvas placed in each bottb . 'ft or testing, the .samples were l••ep f •or four days to allow of Governm-lit inspection. On December 1.5. 1929. a

can containing 21 pound® of "ream labelled “D. Saywell,” was received hv tho Alao-iland Comn-niv from ( I.'""aiti. Further consignments in the same can were received on November December 6 and■ December IT When a fourth can arrived, the Health Officer was sent, for end a sam’do o f the cream taken. “Tip’s sample has been analysed hv a qualified nmdvß and has been found to contain notns-cb’-oi bichromate.” said Detective Walsh.

Evidence was called to show that Saywell, in whose, name the cream was «ent, was acting under defendant s in-

struction. The police claimed that Saywell was an innocent party to the transaction Tt was contended that the consignments of cream sent forward bv Rogei s were the preservatised samples of cream containing potassium bichromate that lie would have on hand at ten dav intervals.

Ernest William Pemberton, chairman of directors of the Ruahine-Rangiwahia Dairy Company, said the first he heard of defendant’s sending cream to the Alaoriland Companv was from Rogers himself, prior to -the new year. NV’+nes® ®a’d his company did not approve of Rogers’ action. Rogers told the<flireefo’-s at a meeting that he did not intend to send any more.

The case was adjourned .until, tomorrow.