MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1941, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SITTING IN MASTERTON SHAREMILKER FINED. FOLLOWING TESTS OF MILK SUPPLIED. The fortnightly sitting of the Masterton Magistrate's Court was held this morning. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. John William Adams, sharemilker, Te Ore Ore, appeared on two charges of selling milk which contained 14 per cent and 9 per cent of added water. On the first charge the defendant was fined £5 and costs £1 3s and on the second charge was convicted and ordered to pay costs £1 0s 6d. Senior Sergeant G. A. Doggett said that' the defendant sold milk to R. I. Matthews, milk vendor, Masterton. As the result of an examination of the milk sold by Matthews the sanitary inspector (Mr T. A. Russell) took samples from Adams's supply. The samples had been taken from two cans, which contained the same night’s milk.

In reply to Mr Lawry, Adams said he attributed the trouble to a leaky milk cooler.

Mr Lawry: “Have you ever examined the cooler? A so-called leaky cooler is frequently given as an excuse. How did the water get in in different percentages?” Adams replied that the faster the milk went through the cooler the faster flowed the water. The variation in flow would account for the difference in percentages of water which got into the milk. Charles Birt, rabbiter, aged 46, was fined £lO and had his driver’s licence cancelled foi’ 12 months on a charge of having driven a car in Masterton on August 13 while intoxicated. Senior Sergeant Doggett said that Birt was arrested in Queen Street at 1 a.m. on August 13, by Constable R. J, Berry. Dr. N. H. Prior examined Birt at the police station and certified him as unfit to drive a car.

Mr N. G. F. Whiteman, who appeared for the defendant, said that Birt had had a few drinks, but as he was Irish and of an excitable nature, he showed the effects of liquor more than the average person would. Birt was not in an advanced state of intoxication. He considered that the case was not as serious as it looked.

On a charge of dangerous driving James Bruce Rutherford was fined £3 and 10s costs. Senior Sergeant Doggett said that the charge arose from an accident in Bannister Street on July 12, when a light car driven by Rutherford capsized while negotiating a corner.

Don Keats was fined £1 and 12s costs and 10s costs on charges of having ridden a cycle without a light after dark and riding a cycle without a rear red reflector.

On a charge of having stolen petrol, James Conway Millward was admitted to probation for 12 months.