Thursday Flashback

A scene like this has not been seen for many years at Scarborough Mere as locals with ice skates take to the frozen surface of the lake. The hut in the background looks to be open for business, possibly for hot refreshments and hiring out ice skates. has been tampered with since leaving the shop? - Yes, but not the figures.

The name and address on the paper are not yours, nor Mr Moore’s? - That is so.

Then the name was put down as a trap? - No.

What was your object in coming in? - I have had reports about these things before and I have had the carrying out of the food orders.

The total of all articles sold on that sheet was 4s 6d. Was the total wrong? - I have not reckoned the list up.

You are a good scholar and you can do it now? - I only take it on the maize semolina. There was a mistake in the flour, which was charged 8d and not the maximum of 8½d per quarter stone.

Mr Rowntree at this stage wished to ask the chief constable whether he did not consider this a trivial case.

The chief constable: I consider this individual case a trivial one, but I had a very good Photo reproduced courtesy of the Max Payne collection.

Reprints can be ordered with proceeds going to local charities. Telephone 0330 1230203 and quote reference number YRN-171215125301050. reason for testing Messrs John Rowntree and Sons in this way, because of other complaints and reports, but I have passed them by without a caution.

Mr Rowntree: It was November 8th when this occurred, and it was all this time before proceedings were taken.

The chief constable: I have six months in which to lay my information and shall lay it at any time within that period.

Mr Rowntree: Is there any difficulty in getting farthings?

The chief constable: I do not consider that. There were two articles in which a farthing was involved and that made a halfpenny.

Mr Rowntree, addressing the bench, said that the articles had been charged according to the long established practice in the town.

The usage continued now for such a large number of years in itself sufficient for anyone and the assistants of anyone to follow out, unless public notice of any sort had been given calling attention to the fact that in future farthings should be and must be taken and allowed.

His second point was that no excess charge was made beyond the maximum owing to their having charged, and regularly charging, 8d for the quarter stone of flour.

Whoever, added Mr Rowntree, wanted a half pound of semolina excepting Mr Musham? In effect they never sold it by the half pound. The amount was exceedingly trivial, and at a period like this, when the call on the time and strength of everyone concerned was heavier than any man could bear to get through, it was exceedingly trivial and annoying to have one’s time taken up in this way without any public statement that in future farthings would be taken. It was of great importance that orders of that nature should be strictly observed. The bench imposed a penalty of 10s. They expressed sympathy with Messrs Rowntree in the great difficulty of their trade under the present conditions.

Mr Rowntree: The difficulties increase because of the difficulty of getting farthings from the banks. We have tried at three different banks.

The case against the assistant was withdrawn.