WATERED MILK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 293, 14 May 1914, Page 5

WATERED MILK.

A PRODUCER FINED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. "Fined £20," was the decision of Mr. Cooper, S.M., at the Upper ilutt Magistrate's Court to-day, when convicting William Collett 011 a charge of selling milk adulterated with water.

.J. H. Cowdray, milk inspector, produced a sample of tl<e milk and a certificate from the Government analyst supporting the charge of adulteration. In giving, evidence on his own behalf, defendant denied putting water in the milk. He said lie remembered placing the can in the cooler, and suggested that water had found its way into the can in this way. He had been in the milk business for 15 years, and had never been in trouble previously. lie strongly commented upon the carriage of cans in the train, contending that they were, so badly knocked about that water was always liable to get into the milk.

In inflicting the fine, with the addition of 35s costs, the Magistrate aid ; that through defendant's action a firm ' in (own had been charged -the other day with selling adulterated milk, and would have been heavily fined but for the fact . that milk was .tested between the railway station and the vendor's shop. .He therefore felt justified in making ihe ; penalty a heavy one. | Later on, counsel made an applica- ' tion of 35s eostsj, the Magistrate said reduction in the amount of the ■ fine. , He compared the present case with the ! recent action in Auckland, wherein a! line had been of similar amount. In the Auckland case, said Mr. Blair, there had been deliberate adulteration.' j

In reply, the Magistrate intimated Hint lie eould not make a reduction, for which, 'however, Collett eould apply to the Department.