SHORT-WEIGHT BREAD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 308, 2 November 1910, Page 5

SHORT-WEIGHT BREAD.

Baker Heavily Fined.

At the Magistrate's Court, Taumarunui, yesterday, before Mr F. O'B. Loughnan, S.M., W. E. Stevenson, baker was fined £lO and costs for selling bread under-weight. Inspector Bennett, of the Health Department, and Inspector under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act, visited the shop with Constable Maher on August 26th and purchased a 21b loaf in the shop, which proved correct, but the next, which was a part of the same 41b loaf, weighed 2ozs short. The Inspector and the constable then went into the bakehouse and weighed 18 more loaves, which were all underweight, from 2ozs to 5£ ozs. Inspector Bennett then offered to weigh the whole batch, telling the baker that if ha could show any loaves over-weight to counter-balance those under-weight, there would be no further trouble. Mr Stevenson said he thought that what was weighed was a fair sample. The Inspector then purchased one 41b loaf which was 4Jozs under-weight, sealed it up in a bag and, took it to Hamilton, where it was checked on the standard scales by Sergt. Hastie at the Police Station.

The sergeant and Constable Maher gave corroborative evidence. Mr Tustin, for the defence, said there was no charge to answer, as the Inspector knew the weight when he purchased the bread, and also referred to the decision of Mr Burgess, S.M., at Wailii in a similar case.

The Magistrate gave a very lengthy summing-up, and pointed out that the fact that the vendor had loaves on the premises which were between three and four pounds weight was equivalent to stating that they were 41b loaves unless the vendor stated to the contrary, which in this case had not been done. In definining the Act, he said that the Act of Sale included having en his premises for sale, exposing for sale, or selling. There was not the slightest doubt the bread was there for sale, and was intended to be sold, and undoubtedly was sold. With a business having a large turnover the amount of profit was very large, and that profit was made entirely at the expense of the general public. He therefore said that a conviction must follow. He intended to make this case a warning to other bakers that they must give full weight to the public. Defendant would be fined £lO end costs