A FRUITERER FINED

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 13

A FRUITERER FINED

UNWHOLESOME STRAWBERRIES

COMMENT BY THE BENCH

L. Clewer, fruiterer, Willis Street, was charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., with selling unwholesome fruit. Mr. W. E. Leicester appeared for the defendant.

Senior-Sergeant Lander said that about 1 p.m, on Saturday last a lad went into defendant’s shop and purchased a box of strawberries. He took them home and placed them in the cupboard, and about 3 p.m. took them to his mother, whose birthday it happened to be. They ate one each, and on. looking at the fruit underneath found them io bo unwholesome. The lad was sent back with tho strawberries, but Mr. Clewer refused to change them on the ground that some of the strawberries had been removed or eaten. The strawberries were taken home, and later on brought. to the police station, and the information was laid. For the defence, it was stated that tho strawberries came from Auckland, and were properly cared for. When the sale was made the strawberries were examined, and they were then sound, and it-.-.nvas suggested that the numerous handlings had caused them to deteriorate. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate said he was very glad that the informant took tho steps she did. There was an obligation on the part of fruiterers to supply the public with good sound fruit. *He was inclined to believe the story of the boy, and, therefore, would enter a conviction. The defendant was fined £3 and costs 265.