Charge Against Market Gardener

Chronicle (Levin), 7 August 1948, Page 4

Charge Against Market Gardener

Described as the first case of its kind in this district, a charge of selling main crop carrots untrimmed was brought against Victor Pei-pberton, Koputaroa market gardener, in the Magistrate's Court, Levin, yesterday. Mf. G. - I. McGregor, of Palmerston North, prose-cute-d and Mr. D. P. Todd represented Pemberton. Cyril Alfred Hoiland, a Price Control Division inspector, told the court how defendant had sent a consignment of carrots to the Wellington markets during June. These carrots still had the tops on. Any carrots sold between February and October were classed as main crop, those harvested during the remainder of the year being spring carrots. Main crop carrots had to be trimmed. Under cross-examination, Hoiland ; admitted that if the carrots, whicb were sown in March, had been left ■ in the ground until October then they would have been classed as spring carrots. The carrots had arrived in Wellington with the tops on- and he, had/Seeh them,. • Con.e^ quently, the tops had be'dn; cut ofi and weighed". There had been' f out pounds of tops in each case. He admitted that this would only work out at 7d abo-ve the ceiling price. No one had paid extra because the tops had- been removed. Mr. Todd quoted lengthy legal argument, following which the magistrate, Mr. H. J. Thompson, interrupted the proceedings, stating that it was quite obvious that the offence had been committed without evil intent. The defendant had committed a breach of the price order and technically the carrots had, on the evidence, been main crop. He indicated that he intended to inflict only a very light penalty. ' . A . However; Mr. Thompson pomted out that price orders were issued to keep down the prices as far as the general public was concerned., They shouid not be disregarded. Attention had been drawn to the matter "o.f trimming main crop carrots to within half an i'nch of the-top, and any further cases of a - like nature iwOuld be dealt with severely. Pemberton was convicted . and -ordered to pay 10s costs. Solicitor's ; fees of £1 Is were allowed.