MILK AND WATER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1284, 13 August 1914, Page 3

MILK AND WATER.

OTAKI OFFENDERS FINED

At the Magistrate’s Court, Otaki, on Friday last, Inspector Reed charged a number of persons with havimr adulte'alfci milk by adding water. H. M. Thomson was charged with adding 8.1 per cent, o! water ; T. Hnnt, 17.7 ; T. F. Taylor, 3.0 ; W. P. A. Kershaw, 19.0 ; h Webby, 9.1 per cent. Ail the defendants pleaded not guilty, each declaring he had not added water.

The Magistrate, Mr J. W, Poynton, said the adulteration of milk was a direct menace to health. It was no new thing ;in ancient Babylon a man was drowned for doing a similar thing. The adulteration of milk had slain more children than Herod had, and it was most necessary to keep milk pure to protect public health. Water in whisky might do a man good, but in milk it was injurious to child life, and he would always impose heavy penalties where adulteration was proved, although sorry in cases to have to do so. In Thompson’s case a fine of Z lO would be imposed, with 24s 6d costs ; Hunt, ,£2O, costs 255; Kershaw, costs 255; Webby, ,£lO, costs 255; and Taylor, Z>s. costs 2 5 s > the penalties being based on the percentage of water added. Thompson, Kershaw and Webby were given six months in which to pay the fine, and Hunt and Taylor three months.