AN IMPORTANT CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 December 1902, Page 1

AN IMPORTANT CASE.

(per press association.)

Wellington, Dec 22,

The hearing of the charges against a Chinese greengrocer at the B.M. Court this morning led to a defect in the Weights and Measures Act being revealed. It appears that the Inspector called at defondant's shop and found that a two ounce weight had been affixed underneath the scales, and which was admitted had been there on purpose. His excuse was that in weighing out potatoes he had to turn the scale in the purchaser's favor and that generally meant that the purchaser would get a potato or two more than the weight. To counteract this loss the storekeeper hit on the plan of inserting a 2 oz weight so as to counterbalance the potato that turned the scale and so leave i the purchaser wi'h no more than ! his money's worth. It was admitted that

the scales were otherwise correct. Counsel for the defence contended that as the scales were neither false nor imperfect no punishment could be meted out. To make the scales work imperfectly by attaching something to them was not an offence. Dr McArthnr, S.M, agreed with this reading and said that a man who applied his finger to interfere with the working of correct scales could not be reached. The charge of having in his possession imperfect scales was dismissed and a fine of 20s with costs 7s was imposed for having an unstamped weight. It ssems that if the Chinaman bad ustd stamped instead of unstamped vre'ght he would have been clear of tho Act. Section 40 prescribes :i penalty for falsifying weights, but not for falsifying scales.