IS IT OFFENSIVE?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 1

IS IT OFFENSIVE?

TALLOW MELTING IN MARTIN , STREET.

MARGARINE MANUFACTURER PROCEEDED AGAINST. Whether the melting-down of tallow in connection with the manufacture ot r argarxne was an offensive operation .<as argued in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Robert Hall, margarine manufacturer, was charged wit mlawfully melting tallow in Martin ■breet. Mr J. O’Shea, who represented the ■oriK)ration, stated that defendant had established a factory for the manufac:ure of margarine, and in connection •vith this business tallow was melted town. It was contended that tallownelting was an offensive trade within the meaning of the Public Health Act. Counsel also submitted that defendant ;hould be licensed by the corporation. Dr Chesson, district health officer, ;aid the melting down of tallow might rcry well cause a nuisance if the busiicss were not properly conducted. He had no complaint against the margarine manufacture—it was the tallow, melting which was objected to. A smell was noticeable before defendant’s ouilding was. reached. During Dr Chesson’s cross-examina-tion by Mr M. Myers, defendant’s counsel, several “breezes” occurred, the witness objecting to being bullied when questioned. Mr Myers replied that if he did not receive direct answers to his interrogations then ho must .adopt his own method of getting them. It was Dr Chesson and nob himself who was losing his temper. Evidence was given by Inspectors Watson and Lindup, of the corporation, that there was no nuisance around defendant’s premises.' Mr Myers submitted that the information should .bo dismissed. There was no evidence, he said, to indicate the nature of the offence. Defendant was not carrying on the trade of tal-low-melting, but the business of a margarine manufacturer, and for this he had a license under the Margarine Act. Counsel contended that Hall was not carrying on an offensive trade, as he only purchased -fresh fat or suet, and reduced the consistency of this material. The operation carried on. by defendant as part of his business was exactly the same as that performed by a number of butchers in the making of dripping,_ and was not the operation of rendering down old fat or offal, such as was carried on by other firms. Defendant stated that ho had been in business in Wellington for about four years—up till about six months ago in Old Customhouse street. During the time he was in the latter place ho was never informed that he was carrying on an offensive trade. He had practically spent about £2OOO in establishing his business in Martin street last March, and the corporation authorities were aware that he was shifting to that place. In his business only the freshest fat was used, hut in tallow-melting works any fat was thrown into the vats. Dr James and ocrgeant McCrorie testified that there was no offensiveness about defendant’s premises. Decision was reserved.