DANGEROUS CARGO.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16817, 12 May 1919, Page 9

DANGEROUS CARGO.

IMPROPERLY PACKED POTSON , . Per Press Association. I WELLINGTON, May 10. i At the Magistrate's Court, the Farmers' Co-operative Wholesale federation, Ltd., was charged with having imported poison improperly packed. .Counsel for the defence suggested that the legislation was not clear whether Sheep dip, containing a certain percentage of arsenic, came under the Poisons Act. The manufacturers of the dip were in Australia, and had been shipping sheep dip powder direct from Melbourne to New Zealand in a certain way, which had never previously heen challenged. One shipment arrived in a damaged condition, and the importers were, under our legislation, responsible for the breach of the Act. However, as soon as the defect was discvered,' the Company took strong action to ensure that future supplies would be sent in accordance with the terms of the New Zealand Act. He contended that it was merely a technical offence. Mr Macassey, for the Crown, read an official report to show that the dip had not been carried in packages of sufficient strength. . The Magistrate said. it appeared to he agreed that' importers were at the mercy of the exporters, but it was still their duty to see that the goods were packed in accordance with the Hew Zealand requirements. The Magistrate said that, in view of the action of the defendant company to prevent similar occurrences, it would only be ordered to pay costs.

A DUNEDIN CASE

, DUNEDIN, May 9. In the police court John Chambers and Son were charged with importing poison, to wit, sheep dip powder, containing arsenic without seeing that the same was packed in accordance with the requirements of the Poisons Act. Defendants explained that, this was the first shipment from a firm which exported the goods, and they did. not know how the contents were packed. "'Defendants: were lined £2O and costs £4 13s. ■'' ••■'■.■