South Yorkshire Times, July 28th, 1951

Sausages: Two Mexborough Summonses Dismissed

Doncaster West Riding Magistrates on Tuesday dismissed two prosecutions brought by the Ministry of Food under the regulation controlling the meat content of sausages, after the defence had submitted that regulations for bringing the prosecution had not been obeyed by the Ministry’s Inspector.

Mr. Donald Dunn, defending Green’s (Mexborough) Limited of High Street, Mexborough and Donald J. Laver, Wath Road, Mexborough, who were summoned for breaches of the regulations, said “of all people who should obey the regulations, the inspector, who can sit quietly down and read them, should obey them.

Green’s were summoned for manufacturing pork sausages with less than 65 per cent meat content, and Laver was summoned for selling them.

Mr. W. F, Bracewell prosecuting for the Ministry of Food, said that on February 8th a sampling officer of the West Riding County Council bought pork sausage from Laver’s shop at 1s. 6d a pound, told him who he was and divided it for analysis which said Mr Bracewell, showed a meat content of 52 per cent and not 65 per cent.

When shown the analyst’s certificate Laver said Green’s supplied him with the sausage.

When Inspector Dales saw Fred Green, managing director of Green’s, said Mr. Bracewell, Mr. Green said: “Yes we did supply Laver with these sausages – it was during a shortage. That particular week we did reduce the meat content, and also the price to 1s. 6d.

Price Reduction

Mr. Green added: “I think we only anticipated the Ministry’s order which is in operation now,” said Mr. Bracewell, who said they had reduced the price and were not “fleecing” the public.

Mr. Dunn said the order concerned required that if the prosecution intended to produce the certificate of the Government analyst, a copy of such certificate should be served with the summons.  “No certificate has been served with the summons,” said Mr. Dunn.

“It may well have been that my clients wished to challenge the certificate.”  The alleged offence was in February and Mr. Dunn said that five months afterwards they could not possibly get an accurate report of the “humble sausages” sold.

Mr. E. W. Pettifer (Magistrates’ Clerk) asked for the full name of the Order on which he relied. Mr. Dunn: 1948, 1509, Supplies and Services Food (Meat) Meat Products and Canned Meat (Controlled and Maximum Prices) Order.

Mr. Pettifer: If we talked like this there would be doubts of our sanity.