Penalties For Excess Weight In Wool Bales Considered Drastic

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 April 1949, Page 6

Penalties For Excess Weight In Wool Bales Considered Drastic

Opposition to the recent introduction of a penalty of £2OO, or a term of three months’ imprisonment, for bales of wool exceeding 400 pounds in weight, or 450 pounds in the case of oddments and crutchings, was expressed at a meeting of the Meat and Wool Section of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of Federated Farmers. “This has been a free country to date, but when it becomes a crime to place an extra fleece in a bale, it is time that something was done,” commented Mr. H. J. Donnelly. The penalties appeared to be very drastic, and he considered the section should voice its disapproval. If a man had to pay the cost of removing the extra fleeces from bales that would be a sufficient penalty, commented Mr. P. L. Wickham. He considered that Federated Farmers should press to the limit to have these threats withdrawn.

The idea of a man being imprisoned for placing extra fleeces in a bale of wool did not agree with the principles of British justice, said the chairman, Mr. I. F. E. Carter.