SHORTWEIGHT BREAD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13546, 6 October 1909, Page 5

SHORTWEIGHT BREAD.

FINES IMPOSED. A batch of bakers appeared before Mr W. R. HaseJdeu, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, charged with selling bread which was not of standard weight. John Thomas Cook pleaded as an excuse that the bread taken by the Inspector was exempt, as it was '"a health loaf." Richard Jas. McKenzie, the Inspector, under the Pure Food and Drugs Act, said that ho found it was about short. The defendant: It was a special loaf you bought and was made of ■ petent flour and other ingredient*. We sell it as health bread. The Inspector said that they asked for ordinary bread and -were given this loaf. The Magistrate: Was the loaf you sold a porous food substance? Defendant: It- was practically a bermaline loaf, and it is exempt under the Act. The Inspector, continuing, said that there were four loaves in the shop, and three were correct weight. A shortweight, loaf was found vi defendant's cart the following day. Defendant: It is the only one that was not proper weight in the cart. I cannot stand these prosecutions and bavo given up business. It is impossible for any baker to turn out a batch of bread that is of absolutely correct weight. Const-able Koster, Inspector of Weights and Measures, also gavo evidence. The defendant: This is the last etraw. I have been an employer for the last twenty years, and have paid £18 and £19 a week in wages. 1 have tried to hold my head up and do my duty to my fellow citizens, and a prosecution of this sort comes very hard oil mc. I pleaded with the inspector not to take that tread, as it .vas exempt. It contains special flour, which 1 practically mill myself on the South Belt. The ingredients are three, but they are trade secrets. It is a patent flour that is used in its manufacture. The Magistrate said he would impose a fine of 20s and costs. A second charge in respect to the loaf taken from the cart was then brought against the came defendant. The Magistrate imposed a fine ot Is and costs. Jas. Slade was charged with a similar offence. This was the first case that had ever been brought against him during his thirty-three years residence in Christchurch. The Magistrate fined him 20s and costs. Henry Tuck, defended by Mr Doug'all, pleaded not guiliy. The Inspector stated that a 41b loaf sold by defendant's assistant, Henry Stenhouse, to him on July 2nd, was 3ioz short, while a 2lb loaf was 2Joz short. Mr Dougall said that defendant was away when the loaves were sold, and did not know anything about the bread. The bakers were trying to get an amendment to the law so that if the brfrad was correct weight before it was baked it would be all right. It was impossible to get the bread the proper weight after it was taked. The Magistrate imposed a fine of 20s and costs. Jas. Schumacher, who did not appear, "was similarly dealt with. The loaves taken by the Inspector were 3Joz and 2Joz short of the standard weight. The Magistrate commented on the delay which had occurred in bringing these oases, and said that in future they should be brought more promptly in order to give defendants a proper chance to prepare their defence.