MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1446, 14 September 1915, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CASES UNDER WEIGHTS & MEASURES ACT.

A special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held before Mr J. W. Poynten S.M. yesterday morning, to deal with a number of cases under the “Weights and Measures Act.” Sub - Inspector Marsack prosecuted. ‘ A. Lazarette was charged with (x) unlawfully having in his possession one 2lb and one rib weights not stamped as required by the Act, (2) having the same weights that were unjust, and (3) using a weight not authorised by the Act to be used, to wit, a grindstone. Defendant pleaded guilty but said he was ignorant of the law. The Sub-Inspector said that the Inspector of Weights and Measures visited defendant’s premises on August 26th and found that two of the weights in use were unstamped and also that they were not the full weight, although the shortage was not very much, something under half an ounce in each instance. Defendant also had in his possession a grindstone which he used as a weight. The Magistrate said that defendant would have to be fined, but he would take into consideration that be was a foreigner and perhaps didn’t know the XSuglish law in these matters, also that the weights were not very much out. Storekeepers would have to take a warning and see that their weights were correct and stamped. Defendant would be fined 20s and costs 7s on each charge with witnesses expenses 10s.

Mark K. Perreau, charged with (1) having in his possession two 2lb. and one rib, weights that were unstamped, aud (2'/ with being in possession of the same weights that were unjust, pleaded not guilty. Janies Gleesou, Inspector of Weights and Measures for this district, stated that he visited defendant’s premises on August 26th and found the weights in question in his bakehouse. They were not stamped, and were not the correct weight, being slightly under half an ounce short in each case. The weights were not in use in defendant’s shop.

The defendant stated in evidence that the weights were not in use for buying from or selling to the public. If used at all, it was only in connection with raw materials.

The Magistrate said it was an offence to have such weights in one’s possession. It was not necessary to have proof of their having been used. Defendant would be fined 20s, with 7s costs, on each charge.