SALE OF MILK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1943, Page 3

SALE OF MILK

MASTERTON VENDOR BEFORE COURT. SUPPLY FROM UNREGISTERED DAIRY. In the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., William Gilliland appeared on two charges relating to the purchase and the sale of milk from an unregistered dairy. The Magistrate convicted and discharged Gilliland on the first charge and he was fined £1 and 10s costs on the second charge.

Arising from the above charge, the Frank Percy Estate was charged with having sold milk although not licensed as a registered dairy. A fine of £1 and 17s costs was inflicted. The charges were taken together. Mr. M. C. Armstrong, who appeared for the Department of Agriculture, said that both offences were deliberate breaches of the regulations. Mr. Macfarlane Laing appeared for Gilliland and Mr. G. D. Wilson appeared for the Percy Estate. Mr Laing said that there was no deliberate breach on his client’s part There was a desperate need for the milk. Mr Wilson said that Gilliland had to ■ get milk from the Percy Estate on account of a shortage due to drought conditions and the presence of visiting service men Tests had shown that there was no T.B. in the herd, and a temporary license had been granted by the Department. It was a breach of the regulations occasioned by an emergency. Mr. Armstrong said that the shortage of milk was slightly greater than was usual at this time of the year. Mr. Lawry: “What about the customers who are being rationed?” Mr. Laing: “I have been personally rationed.”

After further evidence had been heard, in which Mr. Lawry said that the onus was on the Department to present its case fairly, convictions were entered.