MEAT RATIONING BREACHES: COUNSEL CLAIMS REGULATIONS IMPRACTICAL

Evening Star, Issue 26152, 14 July 1947, Page 6

MEAT RATIONING BREACHES: COUNSEL CLAIMS REGULATIONS IMPRACTICAL

A contention that the case showed how impractical the rationing regulations concering the supply of meat td hotels was made by Mr Mark Hanan, counsel for one of the defendants in a case heard in the Police Court this morning before Mr J. D. Willis, S.M.

■ E. Jensen Ltd., were charged on six informations of supplying meat in breach, of the regulations, and New Zealand Breweries Ltd., as owner of the Crown Hotel, and J. Davison, as manager, were charged on the same informations with acquiring meat contrary to the. regulations. In explaining that the charges related to the supplying of meat by the butcher ' company, without obtaining the required number of coupons from the hotel manager, Mr J. B. Deaker, who appeared for the (Rationing Controller. detailed the method by which the hotel was supposed to collect the coupons from customers, and to obtain meat from the butcher, using a system of dockets and credit notes. He said that the effect of the breach had been.that a total of £35 10s lOd worth of meat had been supplied for only £25 worth of coupons. It was very difficult for the department to keep a close check, but the scheme could be worked easily if the hotel keepers would “ play the game.” The department regarded the present basis as serious. “ The difficulties of the department are trifling compared with difficulties of the hotel proprietors in working this scheme,” observed Mr Hanan, who appeared for Davidson. The Crown Hotel supplied up to 100 meals a day, and these were provided for a fluctuating number of cus-tomers,-lie said. „ The hotels could not work - the scheme accurately unless they first got a coupon from a customer, went to the butcher, bought the meat, and then cooked it,” he said. “ This scheme would be impractical. The only way to do it is to order the meat in advance.” . CANNOT DISCIPLINE WAITRESSES ; “ This shows how impractical the regulations are,”, - lie . said. . “ Some waitresses are conscientious in collecting coupons,, and some are. not. With the present shortage of labour it is impossible for proprietors to attempt to discipline-their staffs.” ...“ The amounts involved are absolutely trifling. The department should go and ’ investigate some ;of ■ the breaches committed in country hotels before bringing a charge like this on trivia! matters,” he.said. For the brewery company, Mr -J. M. Paterson admitted a technical liability, as they were the owners, but said mat the company had no knowledge of the shatters complained of by the department. .Mr G. V. Murdock, for E. Jensen Ltd., also submitted, that the amounts involved were trifling.; -The case . had arisen-purely because of the position of hotelkeepers The butcher company had done everything it could, to carry out the regulations;, but a number of hotels, had withdrawn their custom because of their refusal to supply meat in advance. He ' claimed that there should be some other, method ,of dealing with hotels, because of the peculiarities of their trade. .... Mr Willis entered a conviction against New Zealand Breweries, and made ah order for costs of 10s. Davidson was fined £3 .on each of the. six: charges, and ordered toi -pay costs of 10s on one only. E. Jensen Ltd. were given, a similar. pejj|dty-.ta, Davidson^.-,