EXTREMELY FILTHY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1922, Page 7

EXTREMELY FILTHY.

a CHINAMAN’S ACT

UNCLEAN VEGETABLES.

C harges of an unusual and what was described as of a filthy nature were brought against a Chinaman named Ah Wing, in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The informations laid by Inspector Day under the by-laws were that Wing used a receptacle for the storage of food for sale which has been used for any purpose which would be likely to contaminate such food or injuriously affect its wholesomeness or cleanliness. He was further charged that he did fail at all times to keep a receptacle ’used for the storage of food clean and free from foul odours. Wing was represented by Mr. A. A. Bennett, who entered a plea of guilty.

‘lt was never expected that such an offence would be committed,” said the inspector when he remarked in opening the case that the wording of the information did not disclose its seriousness. Proceeding, he said that Wing was the manager of a small shop in Devon Street, conducted by Ah Ping. In a small- passageway at the back of the shop were two bo ?es used for the washing of vegetables. As the result of information received, the Inspector said, he proceeded to the shop adjoining the Chinese early on the morning of February 1, and stationed himself at a window through which the other premises could be seen. At the time the double box was full of water and lettuces, and another box contained a few cabbages. Wing moved aside some of the contents and commenced to use the box as a urinal. When he (the Inspector) immediately proceeded round to the shop and accused Wing of committing the offence the latter replied, “Plenty of water; quite alright.” In commenting on the case the Inspector said the offence involved a particular danger to the community, as it was liable to cause the spread of typhoid. If it were possible he would like to see the man turned out of the business altogether. Counsel for defendant admitted frankly that the case was a serious one, but he thought that nobody but a Chinese would be guilty of such an act. t of course no attempt could be made to excuse the offenceA He pointed out that Wing was not the manager of the business, Jieing himself an employee, whose wages were £1 15s per week. The owner of the business regretted the affair very much. His business might just as well have been shut up in the last few days, because since last Court day there had been practically nobody in the shop. He had only retained the offender in his employ in order to keep the assurance that Wing would not disappear before the case was heard. Counsel thought the danger of infection was not so great as had been stated as the amount of water in the box would minimise it. Wing was not in a position to pay a heavy penalty and the one who would really suffer was the proprietor of the business.

“The whole act is extremely filthy/’ said Mr. Mowlem. S.M. “I would like to believe that this sort of thing is limited io Chinamen. I am sorry to say it is not the case in my experience.”

Mr. Bennett: It is the first case I have heard of.

His Worship: Well it isn’t the first that I have.

Proceeding, the Magistrate passed strong condemnation of the offence. People buying vegetables, he said, exp?»:ed to buy clean articles, at least. He did not know what the offence was due to. Gross laziness, ignorance, or neglect, none of these could be regarded as an excuse. It might be true that the owner of the shop was going %o suffer, but that did not enter into the question.

On the first charge defendant was convicted and fined £lO, costs 9s, and on the second a fine of £l, and costs 7s, was imposed. His Worship said lie had so dealt with the second case because it arose out of the circumstances of the first.