BREACM OF POISONS ACT ADMITED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 91, 20 April 1946, Page 6

BREACM OF POISONS ACT ADMITED

MIXTURE FOR KILLING COCKROACHES

(P.A.) Auckland. April 12. A plea of guilty was entered by Mr. Clarke for Easton Products Ltd., who were prosecuted by the Health Department for three breaches of the Poisons Act and regulations, before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M. Sub-Inspector Daly said that on January 8, an inspector of the Health Department purchased a tin of cockroach poison from the defendant company.. An analysis showed that it contained sodium chloride, a highly poisonous substance, and the fact was not recorded on the label.

Counsel said the company did not manufacture the powder. It had been purchased from another firm some years ago, and the company was totally innocent of the fact there was poison in it. It had been purchased, in the first instance, as a general disinfectant, and they had relied on the label that it was non-poisonous. Mr. Clarke said there was not a great demand for the powder and only 10 hundredweight had been purchased during the past. 14 years, and of that, seven and one-half, had been sold. He submitted that the breaches had been made through ignorance. “All ox which goes to show the necessity for checking the ingredients of insecticides,” said Mr. Luxford. “Here we have stuff which wasi stated to be odourless, colourless and tasteless, and yet it contains sodium chloride, of which a fatal dose is four grams. One almost wonders if not all similar preparations should not be submitted to the Department of Health for examination before they are placed on sale.” Stating it was quite evident, the firm only packed and acted in good faith, the magistrate imposed a fine of £2 10s on each of the three charges.