MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2126, 7 December 1920, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TODAYS CASES. Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Drunkenness.—A statutory first offender for drunkenness was fined 10/-, In default 24 hours' imprisonment. Ell Arthur Evans, a second offender, "who did not appear, was convicted and fined 10/-, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Alexander Tough, aged 08 years, charged with being found in a state of helpless drunkenness, was remanded for a week's medical treatment. Breaches of Orders.—Geo. Campbell Webb (Mr C. S. Thomas) was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment, on a charge of breaking a prohibition order. Richard Davis, charged with a breach of his prohibition order, was declared an habitual inebriate, and committed to Roto Roa for 12 months. "Ba*s of Mystery."—Selling pork sausages containing an excess of starch, contrary to the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, was the charge preferred against Frank H. Steele, of Christchurch, butcher. Mr W. M. Hamilton appeared for the informant, R. J. McKenzie, and Mr G. S. Weston for the defendant. Mr Weston, on behalf of his client, pleaded guilty. ' The foreman of the butchery, he stated, hpd been away on holiday, and the secondT man had prepared the sausage mixture. This man had put n little too much bread in the sausages. It was not a serious thing. He was, perhaps, doing the public a good turn. Mr Hamilton: The public has to have sufficient faith in these "bags of mystery" without having extra ingredients placed in them. There was 7.73 per cent, of starch in the sausages of which complaint was made. This was 1.72 in excess of the starch allowed by the regulations. The information is laid under Section o, Sub-section 3 of the Act, which provides that a penalty not exceeding £SO may be imposed. Mr Weston: The defendant has been in business for 40 years, and lias never had a complaint preferred against him before. In that time he has made more sausages than most people have ever dreamt of. Defendant was fined £2 and costs. Maintenance Cases.—Owen Barber (Mr C. S. Thomas) was ordered to pay 6/- weekly for the maintenance of his child. Mr L. W. Gee appeared for the complainant. Edward John O'Brien was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for the disobedience of n maintenance order, no warrant to issue until applied for. John Henry Garrlck, on a similar charge, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, i on the same terms as the previous defendant. Hugh Holland, James Holland, John Hoiland and Robert Holland were each '■ sentenced to 14 days' Imprisonment for the disobedience of a maintenance, order, no warrant to issue until application be made. Ernest John Attwood was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for the disobedience of a maintenance order in respect of his wife, for whom Mr F. D. Sargent appeared. No warrant will Issue until applied for.