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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 29 Apr 1939
Page 9 Column 4
THREE BAKERS SUMMONED
KINGSBURY EPISCOPI DEFENDANTS FINED
EFFECTS OF EVAPORATION ON TIN LOAVES
Three Kingsbury Episcopi bakers appeared at the Somerton Petty Sessions on Monday, on summonses in connection with the weight of bread which they were offering for sale. The defendants were Randolph LEGG, trading as R. Legg & Son, Maurice Edward Venning PACKE and Ralph Parsons SATHERLEY, who were each summoned for having in their possession for sale by retail loaves of bread of which the net weight of each was not 1lb. or an integral number of pounds. The three defendants pleaded guilty.
Mr. Arthur S. TURRIER, chief inspector of weights and measures, who prosecuted, said it was almost impossible for a baker to get a “dead fixed” weight, therefore certain allowances were made in cases where the variation was very slight either up or down. In the cases before the Court, however, the variations, in the main, were against the purchaser.
SCALES INCORRECT.
An inspector stated that on Monday 17th he visited the premises of Mr. LEGG, at Newtown, Kingsbury Episcopi. Mrs LEGG and her son were on the premises. Witness examined the scales and found them six drams against the customer. There were 22 loaves in the bakehouse, which he weighed. Seventeen of them were deficient in weight, four were correct, and one half-ounce heavy. The deficiencies varied from four drams to two ounces, the total deficiency on the seventeen loaves being 17 ounces 10 drams. Mr. LEGG came to the bakehouse and was asked for an explanation. He replied that he would not give an explanation, until the bread of other bakers in the village had been weighed. Asked if two of the loaves could be purchased, defendant said they were required for customers.
15 YEARS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
The defendant LEGG said he thought the inspector would bear him out when he said the scales on that particular morning were against the customer because they had not been properly cleaned after having been used for weighing confectionery. One of his sons who usually weighed the bread, was away ill that day. In August last the inspector had weighed his bread and everything was in order In fact for the past 15 years there had never been any objection as regards incorrect weight. “I am very upset about the business,” he added. “I don't wish it to be implied that I want to defraud the public.”
TIN LOAVES DEFICIENT.
In the cases against PACKE, the inspector said he weighed eleven 2lb tin loaves, of which eight showed deficiencies varying from one ounce to two ounces per loaf. He weighed other loaves, of which 12 were correct, four were deficient, and 12 1lb. tin loaves were all correct. The total deficiency was 13 ounces.
PACKE told the magistrates that when the inspector weighed the loaves there were only a few crusty ones left, and being tin loaves they had evaporated more than cottage loaves. He usually allowed 3½ ounces for evaporation, but this was a particularly cold day and caused more evaporation.
THIRD DEFENDANT.
The inspector said he weighed 35 loaves which were being offered for sale by SATHERLEY. Sixteen of them were deficient, the shortages varying from eight drams to one ounce. The total deficiency was 13 ounces eight drams. SATHERLEY said he was very sorry and explained that he had an old oven. He stated that in future he would put extra dough for tin loaves
SATHERLEY told the magistrates he had allowed 3½ ounces for evaporation and the cottage loaves were all correct in weight. The deficiencies were all concerned with tin loaves.
The Chairman, announcing fines of 10s in each case observed, “We don't think for one moment there was the slightest intention on your parts to give short weight, but the public have to be protected, and we feel if we fine you 10s each, you will be much more careful in the future.”
Mr. LEGG: We certainly will be.