ADULTERATED GIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 11, 2 February 1942, Page 5

ADULTERATED GIN

BARMAN BREAKS BOTTLES

MAKES UP LOSS WITH WATER »

Fines totalling £20 and costs amounting to £3 13s fid were imposed on Edwin Wilfred Oswald, licensee of tlie Masonic Hotel, Opotiki, on two charges arising from the selling of adulterated gin, when he appeared before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court last week. Mr E. C. East, who appeared for the licensee, said that the licensee was pleading not guilty so that the evidence of the barman could be taken. Sergeant J. Isbistcr stated that Mir Wallwork, inspector of health, called at the hotel and purchased two samples of gin, dividing each bottle into three separate parts, sending one to the Government analyst, giving one to defendant, and retaining oiie himself. One bottle was found to be 43.9 underproof and the other was 42.6 per cent underproof. In one case 33.6 per cent water had been added and in the other 29.7 per cent water had been added. The analyst's certificate was produced. Terrence Carter, employed as barman of the Masonic Hotel, stated in evidence that he was present when the health inspector called. The whisky which had been broken down by Mr Oswald was O.K. Witness stated that he was responsible for the adulteration of the gin without the licensee's knowledge. On Monday or Tuesday witness dropped a bottle of gin and as he had a percentage to keep up he put water in three or fciur bottles to make up the percentage. The licensee' knew nothing of the water being added until after the report had been made.

The Magistrate said that he was not treating the case as a wilful breach on behalf of the proprietor.

A fine of £]0 on each of the' fV.vo charges with costs was imposed.