“CHEAP AND NASTY.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 4

“CHEAP AND NASTY.”

AUCKLAND, Juno 11. Tho deficiency of a widely-advertised and cheap baking powder was tho subject of the prosecution of tho Home and Colonial Stores (Ltd.) before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., this morning on a charge of having sold baking powder that, on being heated with water, yielded only 4.61 per cent, of carlion dioxide instead of the 10 per cent, required by the Pure Food and Drugs Act. This particular chcmicA compound gives baking powder its chief property of “ rising-'” or aerating the confections in which it is used. It was admitted by Mr Hanna, for the defence, that the baking powder had been widely advertised, and that it was deficient, but he stated that its deficiency was not known to tho defendants, who had bought the article in good faith, and had taken all reasonable to ensure its being up to the legal standard. His Worship said that, though ho believed defendants had acted honestly and in good faith, they might have, in the absence of a written guarantee, taken the precaution of having a sample of the powder analysed. Without that they could not establish complete defence. The article was “cheap and nasty ” in the sense that it was a penny a tin cheaper than the usual price, while at the same time it was only half the strength. Still, the analysis showed that no alum, sulphate, or other unwholesome chemical was added to it. There was no question of defendants wilfully doing a, wrong, consequently lie would not order any advertisement of the conviction, and would not inflict a heavy monetary penalty. Defendants would be fined £2, and costs.