POWERS EXCEEDED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 10 March 1933, Page 3

POWERS EXCEEDED

CHRISTCHURCH CHEMIST HAD TO CLOSE DOWN Through what was alleged to be an over-use of powers by the Health Do partment. W. H. T. Beaumont, manufacturing chemist of Christchurch, had to close his business. Ho petitioned Parliament for compensation, and the Public Health Committee tabled a report, referring the petition to the Government for favourable consideration. U! hope and trust that the Governmcnt. will give some cons.doration to Mr Beanmont, who has boon grievously injured.” said Mr Sykes, chairman ot the committee. . In supporting the recommendation of the committee, Mr Howard (Christchurch South) said that the Department forced the petitioner to change the description of his goods, while they allowed overseas competition to carry on as in the past. Later the Health Department discovered that it had gone too far, and told Mr Beaumont that ho could use the original description of his goods, but it was too late, for his business had been closed down. The Department had knowledge that it had gone too far, and had tried to compensate him. It had recommended that £5OO be allowed for postages and for withdrawing stocks, and later a further £lOO as general compensation, but the Government rejected both of these recommendations. Mr Howard appealed to tho Government to consider tho matter, for Mr Beaumont had suffered, through the over-zeal of one officer. Mr Sykes agreed, that Mr Howard s statement was correct in every detail and the report was tabled.