GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 83, 14 March 1916, Page 8

GENERAL.

A case of considerable interest to J brewers and bottlers was board at 4 l:e Hamilton Police Court on-Wednesday last. C.''li. Lines' and Co., Ltd., a firm ,of brewers carrying on business at Hamilton, was' charged, that on two, separate dates it sold beer to which a false trade description bad been applied. Mr H. J. Durham, of Auckland, who prosecuted on behalf of the Great Northern Brewery, Ltd., stated that the defendant had been selling beer of bis own manufacture in bottles embossed with the Great Northern Brewery Lad.'s trade mark, but with bis own labels affixed to the bottles. There was a common opinion among bottlers that they were quite safe in using bottles bearing a certain brewer's trade mark so long as they pu ttheir own labels on the bottles. This, however, was illegal. He said there was no desire to seek a heavy penalty, but the case was to serve as a warning to users of the ibrew.ery's registered bottles and the 'consequences of their actions. The •defendant .pleaded "guilty" to one charge/and counsel for the prosecution agreed to withdraw the other , charges. The Stipendiary Magis- | trato, in inflicting a line of £2 and J costs' pointed out the offence was punishable on indictment by. two years' bard labour, and on a summary conviction By four months' bard labour or a fine of £2O, and on a second conviction to six months' bard labour or a fine of £SO. The fact that the defendant bad committed the offence owing to the shortage of bottles was no excuse, and any further offence would be severely dealt with.