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129
The Magistrate (Mr. Horace Smith) said if Mr. Ricketts' statements
were correct he would suggest the withdrawal of the summons. Mr.
Topham was not at that time in a position to dispute the figures
given in the report. The summons was accordingly withdrawn. As you
are aware, under Sec. 4 of the Act, 1899, and the Board of Agriculture
Regulations, the defendant cannot be convicted if he can show that,
notwithstanding the fact that the milk is below the standard, the milk was
genuine as drawn from the cow.
It is, of course, known that stall-fed cows do, under certain conditions,
give milk below the standard. The Act of 1899, and the Board
of Agriculture Regulations, really now give defendants a defence which
was formerly not open to them.
On the 8th inst., you will remember, we visited Mr. Drury's cow
shed and procured samples of mild from two of the cows before mentioned
(the other two having been sold ), and from three other cows in the shed.
The result of the analyses of this mild is set our in the following table,
alongside of which is a copy of the report produced by Mr. Ricketts.