MOISTURE IN BUTTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 20

MOISTURE IN BUTTER.

THE AUCKLAND PROSECUTION. AUCKLAND, September 13. The case against the New Zealand Dairy Association on a charge of exporting from the Dominion butter containing more than 16 per cent, of water, again came before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., this morning. Defendant pleaded "Not guilty." Mr Mays, in opening the case for the said the facts were that on February 13 the association sent to the Government grading stores 10 boxes of butter. The assistant grader (Mr Fulton), on opening up this butter, came to the conclusion that it contained more than 16 per cent, of moisture This opinion was confirmed by the grader (Mr Thornton), and a sample was sent to New Plymouth for analysis The analyst reported that it contained 23.21 per cent of water. Mr Cuddie stated that proceedings would be taken, and Mr Spragg intimated to Mm that the 10 boxes of butter in question had been made from rejected cream, which was rot of sufficiently good flavour to rciP.Ke up into standard brands. It was intended, only for use as pasbry butter, and. by mistake was sent to the freezing works. The whole thing, according to defendants, w-is due to inadvertence. Evidence on the lines of Mr May's statement was taken. Wesley Spragg, managing director of delendant association, said that the butter in question was a brand seldom sent out, ajij in thh fiiAtf it had not b&% iabuyied

for shipment. It was manufactured from cream which was not of sufficient quality and in this case it had not been intended for local sale as pastry butter. In his absence, however, it had been sent with the export lots to the grading stores. Judging from the association's ■ method of manufacture, he did not see how it could possibly contain such an excess moisture a? alleged. The further hearing of the case was ad-joui-Di.i till Wednesday.