WATERED MILK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2058, 22 November 1919, Page 2

WATERED MILK.

£lO FIXE INFLICTED. The ease heard at the last sitting of the Magistrate’s Court locally, in which Walter S. Free, dairyman, was charged with (1) selling milk containing less solids other ■ than milk fats than that prescribed by the regulations, and (2) with selling milk containing .11 per cent, of added water, and which was adjourned to allow the Inspector to produce the regulations, was concluded at yesterday's sitting of the Court.' Morgan O’Brien, inspector under • the Public Health Act, produced the regulations governing the sale of milk, and the Magistrate, after perusing same, said there was no doubt the sample taken by the Inspector was not Hi) to I lie. standard required.

Mr Moore said that defendant had just asked him to appear on his behalf. From the evidence adduced at last sitting, it was shown that Free was not morally responsible—apart altogether from his legal responsibility —be bought the milk in good faith, and he'bona.fide sold it to consumers, honestly helieveing it was good milk. He was really a victim of unfortunate circumstances, being held responsible for an offence committed through no fault of his 'own.

The Magistrate said all hough there were two information-, laid there wits really only one offence. The addition of the Witter was no doubt responsible for live milk being under the standard prescribed. On the first charge defendant would be convicted and ordered to pay costs (7s) only. ’The sale of milk was a thing a man must be very careful about, and in these eases lie didn’t believe in inflicting only a nominal fine. Defendant on the second charge'would be convicted and lined £lO, will) costs 17s (id.