UNFAIR PACKING

CHINESE GARDENER FINED "The prevalence of dishonest packing on the Wellington market is causing a good deal'of trouble and worry to both European and Chinese retailersj who find it impossible to sell dishonestly packed produce at a profit, and it often means considerable loss to them," declared M.T. A. Dicker, an Agricultural Department inspector, in the Magistrato's Court to-day. A^ number.of convictions had' been entered recently,' and to-day another' case came ' before the Court, Wong King,' a market gardener and wholesale fruiterer, of Taihape, being charged with' packing cauliflowers in an unfair manner.; . Mr. Dicker stated that the contents of 16 sacks of cauliflowers forwarded to the Wellington market on Ist June l>y Wong King were found to be topped off with large, specimens; while in the. lower portion of the sack's were many small discoloured and worthless specimens. The contrast left no doubt in his mind that the sacks were deliberately "topped off" to deceive the purchaser and get a good price. The labels attached to the sacks gave further evidence of misrepresentation. They indicated that the contents of tho sacks were No. 1 choice, but the only cabbages, that corresponded with, the label; were the few at the top. ,■ "A good deal of publicity has been given to the recent convictions,'' added Mr. Dicker, "but it would appear that' there are Chinese market gardeners who think it more, profitable to contiiiue this dishonest packing." ■ •.,-...':. .::...'. The Magistrate ,(Mr. E. Tage^S.-M.) fined Wong King £lO 'and costs.

Tenders, aro shoi'tly to bo called for the erection of .conveniences .' for women and:;childron at the Khandallah Beserve. • , , . Seventy-three pupils of the Eastern Hutt and Boulcolt Schools visited the Palmerston North Show yesterday. The children had. a nioßt enjoyable day and saw all the exhibits. They were under the charge of members of the teaching staff of the Eastern Hutt School and Messrs. Dyer and Webster, members of the committee of the same school.