ADULTERATION OF MILK.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1920, Page 8

ADULTERATION OF MILK.

A BAD CASE. FINE. OF £2O IMPOSED. Two charges of selling milk beiow the standard and of adding water to milk being retailed, were preferred against James S. Leitch at the New Plymouth Court yesterday. Defendant admitted the first charge, but pleaded not guilty to adding water to the .milk. The fact that it was: deficient in solids he attributed to lack' of feed, -which was caused through his being deprived of some grazing rights. He could not account, however, for tl»& water getting into the milk. The cross- examination elicited that it was with some reluctance that defendant allowed the Inspector to take the samples from the can in the delivery cart. He was informed, however, that he would be liable to prosecution if he did not permit samples to be taken. Answering questions by Inspector .Hutton, who conducted {he prosecution, defendant said he could not account for the water. He had not skimmed the milk. "Tliis is one of the worst cases of adulteration I have come across," said the Magistrate (Mr. Bailey). His Worship remarked that he had encountered instances of adulteration of as much as 20 per cent., but here there was more than one-third water. :; A conviction and fine of £2O and costs was entered in regard to the adulteration, and the first information wa's withdrawn. His Worship informed defendant that he was liable to have the fact of the prosecution advertised if he appeared again, or even in this instance, if the Coifrt chose to order such action.