UNWHOLESOME POTATOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19394, 31 July 1926, Page 12

UNWHOLESOME POTATOES.

POOR SAMPLE IN CENTRE. " SACKS DELIBERATELY FAKED." The sale of three sacks of potatoes in which a layer of excellent samples hid a very inferior layer resulted in the appearance of John R. C. Miller and Arthur Lobb, hawkers, in the Police Court yesterday on charges of selling unwholesome vegetables.. Miller admitted the offence, but Lobb pleaded not guilty. William H. Grace said he kept a shop in Ponsonby Road. Lobb called and offered to sell him some potatoes. A short time later he brought back three sacks for which witness'paid £$ Os 6d. The top layer of potatoes was very nice, but about half the sack consisted of small withered specimens which were unfit for human consumpUon. Robert Grieve, senior inspector of health, said he examined the sacks. There were heautifal potatoes on top, but in the centre there was a different class altogether.. Many of these potatoes were rotten and all were unfit for consumption. The. sacks had been deliberately "faked," Sergeant Walton said Miller made a statement that he had bought some'firstclass potatoes and another lot that were' not so good. He had mixed them up and sold them. He had since made restitution to Grace. Lobb said he was merely canvassing for Miller. The magistrate, Mr. Poynton, imposed a fine of £2 with costs £1 5s on Millef and dismissed the charge against Lobb.