WATER IN BUTTER

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12617, 30 November 1926, Page 3

WATER IN BUTTER

BREACH OF ACT DAIRY COMPANY FINED. Per Press Association. NELSON, November 29. A oound of butter was responsible for turee informations for a breach of the Pure Food and Drugs Act. The butter according to the information contained 16.92 per cent, of moisture, a greater quantity than that permittee! by the regulations. The parties concerned were the Waiinea Dairy Cooperative Company, H. Coltman and Co., wholesale agents, and the Workers’ Co-operative, each of whom were all charged with selling the butter. Mr Fell, lor the defendants, admitted all the facts. The Government analysis, he said, showed that the quantity of moisture was 16.92 per cent, and the quantity allowed was 16 per cent, in connection with the testing of the butter for water contents. Water was a free addition, and it was quite impossible in sampling one-third of a pound (as had been done) to state whether that gave a reasonable sample for an appreciable quantity. One of liis clients had analysed one-third- of a pound of the same butter which showed 16.06 while samples from the same churning showed 15.3 of water. In reply to the magistrate, the senior-sergeant said he knew of no facts which would suggest there was ground for a substantial penalty. The magistrate said there was no suggestion of wilful fraud on the public. He held that both principal and agent were liable. As far as the Workers’ Co-operative was concerned lie could not see what steps they could have reasonably taken *to guard themselves from committing ai\ 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 Gd, and the other two defendants 10s each with costs 7s.