MEAT FRAUDS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1831, 10 April 1907, Page 2

MEAT FRAUDS

REGENT PROSECUTION IN . LONDON. ' ’ ' - (Prom Gur Special Correspondent.) ■ LONDON, February 8. A Clerkenwell butcher named William Frederick Masters was prosecuted this week, for describing six carcases of South American Mutton as ■ “New Zealand meat,” contra.ry to the Merchandise; Marks Act. A "second summons . against the defendant was for having.the meat in his possession. Mr Horace Avory, K.C., who prosecuted, explained that he appeared for the guardians of the /Herts CountyAsylum, .Mill End, St. Albans. The defendant, he said, had contracted to supply 7 the guardians with New Zea- ■ land, mutton in its original, linen wrappings and with the original labels attached: The officials became suspi- . clous,, and called m Mr Cameron, of the New Zealand Government. He, and the' experts also called in, were of opinion that the meat was River Plate or South American mutton, and worth three farthings to a penny a pound less than New Zealand mutton, representing about 48s on the whole six carcases. These were delivered on October 31, and. were contained in linen wrappers, stamped either “C.M.C.”' (Christchurch Meat Company) “lamb,” or “Messrs Nelson Bros., Gisborne, New ZoalanU.” One consignment should therefore have been from the North Island, and the other from the South. ; The guardians communicated with the defendant, and received the explanation that the tiring had occurred through the mistake of a clerk. But, said counsel, it had been a continuing mistake.. Mr H. *O. Cameron, produce commissioner for the New Zealand Gov--eminent, and Mr George . Goodehild-, of the Mill End Asylum, gave evidence for the prosecution. For the defence it was said that tlie occurrence was an isolated one. . It was difficult to say how it happened, . owing to . the lapse of time between the occurrence and tire actual taking • of proceedings. The defendant' was an i old Man, with' three places of busi- ’. ness.- Therefore the work was left to. managers. On this occasion tlie'meat was late, and the men. made up thecontracts —going father by the weight -per carcase required than by the place of origin. And a “lamb” cloth • on ‘mutton would never deceive any one. It was an act of carelessness on the part of servants for which tlie' defendant was responsible. The difference in value was Bs, not 48s, and there was no previous complaint.

-Mr Bros imposed a fine of, £5, with £25 costs. 'The second summons was withdrawn. In a plea for mitigation of costs, defowdant’s counsel said the .prosecution had been instigated by the New Zealand Government.' The Magistrate replied that lie was "very pleased to hear that the' Government was behind the prose’cutionj as the matter was one of groat importance) and it was right that ' the; interests of the producers and the public should bo protected-. “ ‘ ; : *• / -