PACKING POTATOES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 86, 21 January 1928, Page 2

PACKING POTATOES.

CHINESE GARDENER'S OFFENCE.

FINE OF £5 IMPOSED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON; January 20. Dishonest and fraudulent was the description given by Fruit Inspector Dicker to the methods of packing employed by certain Chinese market gardeners, who send their-produce to the Wellington market. A case was heard against Young Hip Tong, of Manukau, who admitted forwarding bags of potatoes in which the biggest had been placed on top, giving a false idea of the average size of the contents. The Government had found that it was T necessary last year to bring regulations into force, to protect the interests of purchasers and to deal with offenders, said the inspector. "While there are Chinese , who are known on the market for their fair packing, there are many cunning ones whose aim is apparently to deceive by wilfully topping off sacks of vegetables with fine specimens. The result is that retailers, or hawkers are up against it the whole time, as they have not the slightest chance of selling such produce. Defendant had previously _ been in trouble for topping off his sacks. The maximum fine was £2O. A fine of £5 was imposed.