BUTCHER FINED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22571, 26 February 1948, Page 3

BUTCHER FINED

PRICE ORDER BREACH NOMINAL PENALTY (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 26. The position which allowed the producer of meat to accept any price for his produce, while the price the butcher was able to pay for it and still make a profit on its re-sale was limited by Price Tribunal control was a ridiculous apomaly, was the contention of Mr. L. F. Moller in the Magistrate’s Court. Mr. Moller appeared for Cyril Frederick Schrocder, who was charged by the Department of Industries and Commerce with selling meat in excess of a price order. Mr. J. R. Mills appeared for the department. Schrocder pleaded guilty. Mr. Mills said the price order had fixed the retail price at lOjd per lb, with an increase allowed between August 20 and November 21 of ltd per lb. The offence occurred on August 21 and the price the defendant was entitled to charge was therefore Is per lb. An inspector entered the defendant’s shop cn August 21, when he had a piece of corn belly pork of 21b 2oz marked at 2s 7d. It should have been sold at 2s 2d. His only explanation was that if he did not charge more than the fixed price he would be unable to make a profit. In lining the defendant £2, the magistrate, Mr. Pi. C. Abernethy, said the war had brought a shortage of goods and price control in many countries, including New Zealand. Peace had brought similar conditions and the controls had been maintained. So long as they were law the courts had to enforce them, and it did not matter whether the court thought they were foolish laws or good laws they had to leave it to the good sense of the public to alter them through the legislature. “It doesn’t lie with the court to take permanent notice between a section of the community and price control.” said Mr. Abernethy. _ “It lies with the butchers and price control to iron it out. It may well be a matter for further consideration. From what Mr. Moller' said it would appear to be.” Mr. Abernethy said the fine inflicted on Schroeder was merely nominal.