POISON IMPROPERLY PACKED

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 111, 10 May 1919, Page 14

POISON IMPROPERLY PACKED

ACTION AGAINST IMPORTERS. ,::y Telegraph. —I'ress Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. At tin' Magistrate's Court to-day tho ]"nrmors' Co-operative Wholesale Federation, Ltd., w;is charged witii having imported poison improperly packed. I utilise] for the defence suggested that the legislation was not clear as to whether sheep dip containing a certain peri, titage of arsenic came under the Poisons .Vet. 'I lie manufacturers of tlie dip were in Australia, and had been snipping sheep dip powder dirccl from Melbourne to New /.aland in a certain way. which had never previously been challenged. Due shipment arrived in a damaged condition, and the importers were, under the Dominion legislation, responsible for .1 breach of tin- Act. However, as soon as the defect was discovered, tn.' company took strong action to ensure Dl.lt future supplies would he Sell! in nrcortllltiet' with the terms of tile Now Z, aland Act. II intended it wa- merely v technical ollVncc. Mr Maca-siv. for the frown, read an olliial report in -how that the dip had ted been carried in packages of sullicient strength. Tlie magistrate said it appeared to lie * Breed lhat the importers were al the mercy of the exporters, but it was si ill their duty lo see that Ihe goods were packed in ai I.nice villi New Zealand requirements. In vteiv of the action of the defendant company to prevent a similar occurrence it would only be ordered to pay costs. IU'XEnIX, Friday. In (he Police ( ourt, John Chambers and '-■.ii were charged with importing poison, lo wit. sheep dip powder, eontnininc arsenic, without sooi.ig the same unpacked in Hceorilsinri' with the requirements of Ihe Poison Act. The defendants explained that this was the first shipment from Ihe firm which exported Die gbods. and they did led know how Die contents "ere packed. The defendants were I'm J £:20 and costs 9:!/.