Milk Removed And Replaced by Water, Defendant Claims

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1942, Page 4

Milk Removed And Replaced by Water, Defendant Claims

The defence that some person had taken milk from a can on a milk stand at night and replaced it with water was offered in the Waitara court yesterday when- F. F. Green, Brixton, pleaded guilty to charges of having sold milk which contained less than 8 5-10 per cent. of milk solids other than fat and with sellLng milk containing 14 per cent. of added water. It seemed a combination of queer circumstances, said Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., but defen-dant's father had been genuine in having had analyses made. The magistrate dealt with the case leniently, convicting the defendant on both charges and ordering him to pay costs 61 0s 9d on the charge regarding the added water. A sample of milk taken by Mr. P. A. MJlne, health inspector, from Green's milk cart on July 7, was sent to Wellington for analysis and was found to contain only 8.15 per cent. of solids other than fat, but 14 per cent. of added water, said Constable F. Lemm, who prosecuted. Appearing for the defendant, Mr. Ivor Prichard said the butterfat test of the milk was 6 per cent., compared with the legal requirement of 3.25 per cent., and the test for milk other than solids was very close to the legal requirement of 8.5 per cent, Mr. F. V. Green, defendant's father. was staggered when told that the sample contained 14 per cent. of added water. He could not believe it and thought there must be something wrong with the analysis, for he kept a pedigree jersey herd and prided himself on the quality of his milk. On the day the sample was taken Mr. Green had the milk tested for butterfat by Mr. E. Penwarden, the test being 5.9. On receiving the Wellington analysis some weeks later he discuss ed the matter with Mr. P. O. Veale, scientist, at New Plymouth, but it was then too late to test that sample. However, when Mr. Milne again took samples on August 12 Mr. Green took his sample to Mr. Veale, and to his surprise the analysis while showing 6.1 per cent. fat, also showed only 8.42 per cent. solids other than fat and*9 'peftoetit. added NVafe'r. He tnen set out to find tlie cause. His family and staff were careful and trustworthy, and careful inspection showed there had been no leakage from a new coqler. A neighbour 'gave a statement, said Mr. Prichard, that on one night he heard the rattling of cans on Mr. Green's milk stand, and Mr. Green considered someone must have been stealing milk from one.-of the cans of night milk and replacing it with water, and that the samples were taken from that can. He placed the matter in the hands of the police and arranged with a carpenter to have the milk stand made secure against intruders. On August 18 another sample was sent to the scientist and it proved up to standard. Mr. Green had been put to considerable expense in analysists' fees and in endeavouring to ascertain the cause, Mr. Prichard added.