TUI TRAPPED

NZ Truth, Issue 1196, 1 November 1928, Page 7

TUI TRAPPED

Yes, With A Pinch OfSalt (From "N.Z. Truth's" "Palmerston * " North Rep.) Considering that a great deal of the time of the court is taken up dealing with effects of beer it was quite refreshing to listen to counsel m the Palmerston Court the other morning, argue the relative merits of different brews of "Tui." THE Tui Brewery Company, Ltd., was arraigned on a charge of haying offered for sale beer that contained more than the regulation amount of chlorides or, m .common word, salt. Lawyer P. H. Cooke, who conducted the prosecution, explained to the satisfaction of everybody that the law allowed 50 grains of chlorides to the gallon. An analysis of a sample of Tui by the Health Department's inspector had revealed that there was 65 grains present to the gallon. They had even gone further and explained at length to the company the different ways that salt could get into a brew. They had also advised the company .to have samples analysed from time to time. A brew would con-. Hist of from 1000 to 1500 gallons and at the rate of 65 grains," a considerable iimount of extra salt would be sent out m the beer. Lawyer Smith, of Pahiatua, appeared on behalf of the company, and expressed astonishment that the department had found it necessary to go on with a prosecution of this nature. He produced a phial containing 15 grains of salt m an endeavor to show the court how small an amount it was. A most careful analysis had to , be .made 'to discover the extra amount. It was not the company's wish to break the law. . Tlie magistrate: Perhaps he will take your word for it. ■ Counsel: 1 think he knows. (Laughter.) l-.nw.ver Smith added that the company had its brews analysed from time to time, and the department had spent at least £20 m getting the present analysis made. It was a mystery to the company how the extra salt had got into the beer.

The magistrate: Fifteen grains m a gallon would amount to a good deal m 1000 gallons. •

Counsel: The' company has been particularly anxious not to break the regulations and has kept the salt content down to as low as 30 and 32 grains.

Counsel: There couldn't have been a more trivial breach o£ the regulations. The extra salt couldn't do anyone any barm. He asked that the charge be treated as a trivial one.

The magistrate: I can't deal with the matter without inflicting a lino. Fln«* £5 with costs.