WEIGHT OF BREAD

Northern Advocate, 3 February 1936, Page 4

WEIGHT OF BREAD

CASE AGAINST BAKER DIMISSSED. HIKURANGI PROSECUTION. As the outcome of complaints, William John Berryman, Inspector of Weights and Measures, Whangarei, visited Hikurangi on December 10. 1935. The complaints were that customers had been sold underweight bread.

Today Ronald Frederick Hall, of Hikurangi, appeared in the Police Court before Mr G. N. Morris, "S.M., charged that he did sell, or cause to be sold, at Hikurangi, a loaf of .bread the weight of which was short of the quantity demanded by the seller. Giving evidence Mr Berryman said he went to Hikurangi on December 10, where he stopped a horse-drawn cart driven by Harry John Pearson and bought a 21b loaf of bread. He asked Pearson to proceed to the Economic Stores. There the bought loaf, and also others, were weighed. The first was found to be half-an-ounce deficient and other 41b loaves lioz, 3£oz, 3oz, 2oz, Ifoz respectively. All were chosen by the baker. Asked by Mr R. K. Trimmer, who represented defendant, if he would swear on oath that Hall’s name was on the cart, Mr Berryman admitted that he would not.

Mr Trimmer: “Then you only know from local knowledge and conversation with the driver that the cart was Hall’s.” Counsel went on to quote a case exactly the same which had been heard by the High Court of Australia. It had been found there was no prima facie case.

Mr Morris: “Mr Berryman’s knowledge is only hearsay, and on that knowledge I don’t think I can convict.” The case was dismissed.