Clarke, Peter Geoffrey Webber v New Concept Import Services Pty Ltd
[1981] FCA 217
•27 Aug 1981
| I N THE | FEDERAL | COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) ) |
| VICTORIA | DISTRICT | REGISTRY | ) | No. | VG.77 of 1 9 8 1 |
| ) |
| GENERAL | D I V I S I O N | ) |
| - | BETWEEN | : PETER | GEOFFREY | WEBBER CLARKE |
Prosecutor
| - | AND | : | NEW CONCEPT | IMPORT | SERVICES |
| PTY. LTD. |
D e f e n d a n t
O R D E R
| JUDGE MAKING ORDER | : | DAVIESr J - |
| DATE | OF ORDER | : | 27 A u g u s t 1 9 8 1 |
| WHERE MADE | : | Melbourne |
| THE COURT ORDERS | THAT : |
| 1. | The de fendan t be convic ted of | t h e offence charged. |
| 2. | T h a t t h e fur ther | hear ing o f | t h e proceedin'gs | be | adjourned |
| t o Wednesday, | 3 0 September | 1981 , | a t 9 . 3 0 | a .m. . |
I N THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA )
| V I C T O R I A | DISTRICT | REGISTRY | ) | No. | VG.77 | of 1 9 8 1 |
| ) |
| GENERAL | D I V I S I O N | ) |
BETWEEN : PETER GEOFFREY WEBBER CLARKE
P rosecu to r
| AND - | : NEW CONCEPT IMPORT SERVICES |
PTY. LTD.
Defendant
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
| 27 August | 1981 | DAVIES, | J . |
| T h i s i s a | prosecut lon | under | s .79 | o f | t he | T | rade | P rac t i ces | Ac t | 1 9 7 4 |
| f o r | a | breach of | s.62(1) | of | t h e A c t . | The | i n f o r m a t i o n | l a i d | by Mr. |
| Peter | Geoffrey | Webber | Clarke , | a n o f f i c e r | of | t he | T rade | Practices |
| Commission, | a g a i n s t N e w | Concept | Import | Servlces | Pty. | Ltd. , | i n | s o |
| f a r as | i t is | r e l e v a n t , | s t a t e s | : |
| " . . . t h a t | on | or | abou t t he 9 th day o f | May | 1 9 8 0 | i n | t h e |
| S t a t e o f | V i c t o r i a , | NEW | CONCEPT | IMPORT | SERVICES | PTY. |
| LTD. | being | a | c o r p o r a t i o n w l t h l n | the | meanlng | of | the |
| Trade | P rac t l ces | Act | 1 9 7 4 | d l d | commit | a n | o f f e n c e |
| a g a i n s t s e c t i o n | 7 9 | by | c o n t r a v e n i n g s e c t l o n 6 2 ( l ) ( b ) |
| of | t h e | s a i d | Act | i n t h a t , | i n t r a d e or | commerce, | i t |
| d i d | s u p p l y | g o o d s | t h a t | a r e | o f | a | k i n d | l i k e l y | t o | b e |
| u s e d | b y | a | c o n s u m e r | s u c h | g o o d s , | name ly , |
| Hanna-Barbera | p l a s t i c | bubb-a- loons | bemg | novel t ies |
| des lgned | fo r | b lowing | ba l loon | l i ke | shapes | f rom | a |
| s o l u t i o n | c o n t a i n i n g | a c e t o n e | and | polyvinyl | a c e t a t e , |
| be lng | of | a | kind | i n r e spec t | o f | wh | ich | t he re | w a s | i n |
| f o r c e | a | not ice | under | sec t ion | 62(2D) | of | the | sa id | A c t |
d e c l a r i n g t h e g o o d s t o b e u n s a f e g o o d s . "
| , | . | . _., -.,. | . | .. | . -_. | . | . |
2.
| Sec t ion | 6 2 ( 2 D ) | p r o v i d e s | : |
| "62.(2D) | Where | it | a p p e a r s | t o | t h e | M i n i s t e r | t h a t |
| goods | of | a | p a r t i c u l a r k i n d | w i l l o r | may | c a u s e i n - ~ u r y |
| t o persons | us | ing | the | goods | or | t o any | o | ther | persons | , |
| h e may, | by | no t i ce | unde g o o d s | r | h | i | s | hand | pub l i shed | i n goods." | t he |
| G a z e t t e , | d e c l a r e | t h e | t o | be | unsafe |
| By | n o t i c e g a z e t t e d o n | 1 | 4 | June | 1 9 7 9 , | t h e M l n i s t e r d e c l a r e d | cer ta in |
| goods | to | be | unsafe | goods | and | s p e c i f i e d | t h e g o o d s a s | : |
| " N o v e l t i e s , | s u c h | a s | ' A p o l l o | C o l o r | B a l l o o n s ' , |
| 'Bl iwing | Bal loon ' , | 'Blobo | Bubb-a-Loons' | , | ' B l o - i t ' | , |
| 'Loony | Ba l loony ' | , | 'Magic | Moon | B a l l o o n s ' , | 'SSS |
| B a l l o o n s ' | a n d | ' S u p e r | E l a s t i c | B u b b l e | P l a s t i c ' |
| des igned | for | b lowing | ba l loon- l ike | shapes | f rom | a |
| s o l u t i o n | c o n t a l n i n g | a c e t o n e , | p o l y v i n y l | ace t a t e |
| and/or | benzene." |
| It has Thomas Whit t ingslow f o r 8 cents each, | been | proved | tha t | in | May | 1980 | t h e | d e f e n d a n t | s o l d | t o | Mr. |
| 6,500 | Hanna-Barbera | p l a s t l c |
| bubb-a- loons, | each | containing | a | th in | b low | p ipe | o r | c y l i n d e r |
| approximately 3 inches | long | and | a | t u b e | c o n t a i n i n g | a | s o l u t i o n . |
| The | p ipe and | t h e | t u b e | of | s o l u t l o n w e r e a f f i x e d t o | a | c a r d | on | which |
| a p p e a r e d | t h e | i n s t r u c t i o n s | t h a t | t h e | u s e r | s h o u l d | o p e n | t h e | t u b e , |
| squeeze a | b a l l | o f | p l a s t i c | s o l u t i o n | on | t o | the | end | of | the | p ipe , |
| b l o w t h r o u g h t h e p i p e t o i n f l a t e t h e p l a s t i c | and | p m c h t h e | end | of |
| t h e p l a s t i c warnlng, | t o | seal | t h e | b a l l o o n . | On | each | k i t appeared | the |
| "NOT A GUM. | DO NOT CHEW. | DO NOT USE NEAR FIRE. |
| CONTAINS | : | POLY VINYL ACETATE, ACETONE ETHYL |
| ACETATE | PLASTIC | FORTIFIERS WITH | C E R T I F I E D COLOURS." |
| Evidence | was | g i v e n | t h a t | t h e | goods | had | been | acqulred | by | t h e |
| de fendan t | a t | 22 | c e n t s e a c h f o r | a | promotion | which | was unsuccess fu l |
| and | t h a t | t h e | r e m a l n d e r | o f | t h e | s tock | was | s o l d | t o | Mr. | Whit t ingslow |
| who | c o n d u c t e d | a m u s e m e n t s | a t | s h o w s | a n d | l i k e | o c c a s i o n s . |
| Mr. | Whit t ingslow used | these | goods, | as the defendant | unders | tood | he |
| would, | a s | c o n s o l a t i o n | or | g ive -away | p r l zes | i n | a | game | c a l l e d |
| "Laughing | Clowns", | i n | wh lch | each | con te s t an t | endeavoured | t o | p l ace |
3 .
| a b a l l i n t h e mouth of | a moving | clown' | S h e a d . | I f | s u c c e s s f u l , |
| t h e | c o n t e s t a n t | r e c e i v e d | a | p r i z e | o f | s u b s t a n c e ; | i f | unsuccess fu l , |
| c h i l d r e n | who | were approx ima te ly | c o n t e s t a n t s | r e c e i v e d | a | smal l | or | t oken | p r i ze . |
| Mr. | Whi t t i ngs low | had | t en | t ypes | o f | such | sma l l |
| p r i z e s , | o n e | of which was the | bubb-a-loons | k i t . | Each | c o n t e s t a n t |
| p a i d 6 0 t h e e f f e c t t h a t e v e r y c h i l d | c e n t s | t o | e n t e r | t h e | game, | and | a | n o t i c e | was | d i s p l a y e d | t o |
| would | r e c e i v e | a | p r i z e . |
| The | f i r s t | q u e s t i o n | IS | w h e t h e r | t h e | s o l u t i o n | i n | t h e | t u b e s |
| conta ined , | "ace tone , | po lyvinyl | ace ta te | and/or | benzene" . | Each |
| k i t s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s c r i b e d | its | c o n t e n t s as | c o n t a m i n g , | " p o l y v i n y l |
| a c e t a t e , | a c e t o n e , | e t h y l a c e t a t e , | p l a s t i c | f o r t i f i e r s " . | An |
| admission was made t o Mr. | Clarke by Mr. | Veale , who was a u t h o r i s e d |
| to | speak | on behal f | o f | t h e | d e f e n d a n t , | t h a t | t h e | k i t s | i n d i c a t e d | t h a t |
| t h e | t u b e s | c o n t a i n e d | p o l y v i n y l | a c e t a t e | a n d | a c e t o n e , | e t h y l a c e t a t e |
| and | t h a t | t h e y | a c c o r d i n g l y | would | a p p e a r | t o | f a l l | w i t h i n | t h e | terms |
| o f | t h e | Minister's | banning | order . | I n | a d d i t i o n , | e v i d e n c e | was |
| given by | an | a n a l y t i c a l | c h e m i s t , | Mr. | K. | Maurer , | tha t | he | had |
| a n a l y s e d | t h e | s o l u t i o n | i n | t h e | t u b e s | o f | t h r e e | k l t s , | E x h i b i t | J , |
| g i v e n | t o | him | and | t h a t | t h e | s o l u t l o n | i n | e a c h | k l t | i n | each | t ube |
| con ta lned | po lyv iny l | ace t a t e , | a ce tone , | and | e thy lace ta t e . |
| In | h i s | f i n a l | a d d r e s s , | Mr. | T. | Ginnane , | counse l | for | the | defendant , |
| s u b m i t t e d | t h a t | there was n o | p r o o f | t h a t | t h e | k i t s ana lysed | by | Mr. |
| Maurer | were | p a r t | o f | the | goods | so ld | by | t he | de fendan t | t o | Mr. |
| Whitt ingslow. | B u t | t h e r e | a r e | i n | e v i d e n c e , | as | Exh ib l t | F , | f ou r |
| k i t s which were produced | by | Mr. | C l a r k e | t o | Mr. Veale and admit ted |
| by Mr. Veale t o have | been | examples | o f | the | goods | so ld | by | the |
| d e f e n d a n t | t o | Mr. | Whi t t i ngs low | in | May | of 1 9 8 0 . | Orie o f | t hose | k i t s |
| c o n t a i n s | a | n o t e | o r commas, | endorsement | which, | a f t e r | a | l e t t e r | w h i c h |
| a p p e a r s | i n | i n v e r t e d | s t a t e s | : |
"SAMPLE COLLECTED FROM I N G R I D B E Z J A K O F
WHITTINGSLOW NOMINEES P/L AT 9 . 4 0 am 3 MARCH 1981."
| That | endorsement | 1s fol lowed b y | w h a t | a p p e a r s | t o | b | e | t h e | i n i t i a l s |
| of a Mr. Clarke and Mr. Thomas Whitt ingslow | and | a | f u r t h e r | se t of |
| f i g u r e s | i n | i n v e r t e d | commas, | i n | t h i s | c a s e , | "TWGS". | A s t h a t | k i t |
4.
| was | produced | by | Mr. | Clarke | t o | Mr. | Vea le , | t oge the r | w l t h | a |
| s t a t emen t made | by | Mr. | Whitt ingslow, | i t | can | ha rd ly be doub ted t ha t |
| t h e | s r g n a t u r e s | C l a r k e | and | Whi t tmgs low | a re | t hose | o f | Mr. | C la rke , |
| t h e | o f f i c e r | o | f | t h e | T r a d e | P r a c t l c e s | Commission | who | gave | evidence |
| i n | t h e s e | p r o c e e d i n g s , | and | of | M r . | Whit t ings low, | the | purchaser | o f |
| f rom admit ted by Mr. Veale | the | de fendan t . | I n | any | even t , | t he | k i t s | were |
| t he | goods |
| to | have | been | examples | of | the | goods | sold. |
| The | t h r e e | k i t s | be ing | Exh ib l t | J , | which | were | analysed | by | Mr. |
| Maure r , | appea r | t o | be | i den t i ca l | w | i | th | t he | k i t s | i n | E x h i b l t | F, | even |
| t o t h e t h a t I have set out | e x t e n t | t h a t | e a c h | h a s above | e n d o r s e d | upon | i t | a | n o t e | similar | t o |
| and | on | whrch | t h e | s i g n a t u r e s | o f | a | Mr. |
| Clarke | and | a | Mr. | Whi t t i ngs low | a l so | appea r , | wh ich | s igna tu res |
| appea r | be | i den t i ca l . | t o | These | t h ree | k i t s , | E x h i b i t | J , | were |
| r ece ived | i n | ev idence | w | i | thou | ob jec t lon . | t | Mr. | G i n n a n e | s t a t e d | t h a t |
| he had no d e c i d e d o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e c o u r t , n o t o n t h e | o b j e c t i o n | t o | t h e | t e n d e r . | The | case | mus t | t he re fo re | be |
| bas i s | o f o b j e c t i o n | ev idence | as it may | have | been | i f o b j e c t i o n | had | been | t a k e n |
| and | i f | t h e | h a d | b e e n | u p h e l d . | If | objec t lon | had | been |
| t a k e n | t o | t h e | t e n d e r , | i t | may | have | been | proper | f o r | t h e | C o u r t | t o |
| i n s l s t | upon | s t r i c t | p r o o f | t h a t | t h e | goods | analysed | by | Mr. | Maurer |
| were | goods | sold | by | the | defendant | to | Mr. | Whitt lngslow. | O r it may |
| have | been | proper | to | requi re | ev idence | to | be | ca l led | compar lng | the |
| analysed | k i t s and | the | wr i t t en | endor semen t s | w l t h | t h e | k i t s | i n |
| Exh ib i t | F. | However, | as | o b j e c t i o n | was | n o t | t a k e n | t o | t h e | t e n d e r , |
| it | is | n e c e s s a r y | t h a t | I should | compare | the | k i t s I n | E x h i b i t | J | w i t h |
| t h e | k | i | t | s | i n E x h l b i t | F | t o a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r t h e y a r e i d e n t i c a l | a n d |
| whether | t he re fo re | t hey | were | pa r t | o f | t he | goods | so ld | by | t h e |
| d e f e n d a n t | t o | Mr. | Whit t ingslow o r conta ined | ident ica l | components . |
| I may have | r ega rd | t o | t he | wr l t t en | and | pr lnted | endorsements | on | the |
| k i t s . | Hearsay | evidence, | i f | n o t | o b j e c t e d | t o , | may | be | r e l i ed | upon . |
| I n t h l s c a s e , | it | is proper | to | have | regard | to | what | i s | wr i t ten | on |
| t h e | e x h i b i t , | f o r | i f | ob jec t lon | had | been | taken , | Mr. | Clarke or Mr. |
| Whi t t ings low, | ne | i | ther | o f | whom | had | been | released, | could | have | been |
| r e c a l l e d | t o | g i v e f u r t h e r | e v i d e n c e . |
5 .
| As | t h e | g o o d s | E x h i b i t s | i n | F | and | 3 | appea r | t o | be | i d e n t i c a l |
| p r o p r i e t a r y | g o o d s , | a s | t h e | g o o d s | i n | E x h i b i t | J | c o n t a i n | a |
| hand-wr i t t en | endor semen t | s imi l a r | t o | t ha t | appea r ing | on | one | of | the |
| k i t s i n Exh ib i t | F , | and | as the | hand-wr i t t en | endor semen t s | s t a t e |
| t ha t | t he | goods | were | co l l ec t ed | from | Ingrid | Bezjak | of | Whit | t | ingslow |
| Nominees | Pty. | Limited | a t 9.40 am on 3 March 1981 | and | conta ln |
| s i g n a t u r e s | which | appear | to | be | the | s igna tures | o f | Mr. | Clarke | and |
| Mr. | Whitt ingslow, | I | am | s a t i s f l e d beyond | r easonab le doub t | t he | k i t s |
| t h a t were analysed by Mr. | Maurer | were | some | o f | t h e | k i t s | s o l d | by |
| t h e | d e f e n d a n t | t o | Mr. | Whitt ingslow. | I | am | t h e r e f o r e | s a t i s f i e d |
| beyond | r easonab le | doub t | t ha t | t he | so lu t ion | i n | t he | goods | so ld | by |
| t h e d e f e n d a n t t o | Mr. | Whi t t i ngs low in | May | 1980 conta ined po lyvinyl |
| a c e t a t e , | a c e t o n e | and | e t h y l a c e t a t e . |
| Mr. | G i n n a n e | f u r t h e r | s u b m i t t e d | t h a t | t h e | t e r m s | o | f | t h e | d e c l a r a t i o n |
| g a z e t t e d | on | 1 4 June | 1979 were | so | u n c e r t a i n | t h a t | t h e | d e c l a r a t i o n |
| was | vo ld | o r , | i f | i t d id | have | a | meaning, | t h a t | i t | r e q u l r e d | t h e |
| s o l u t l o n | c o n t a i n | b o t h | a c e t o n e | and | benzene. | The | term | "and/or" | is |
| n o t | a | r e c o g n i s e d | d i c t i o n a r y | term. | Never the l e s s | i t | i s | a | term |
| which is in | popular | use . | It | p r o v i d e s | f o r | t h e | s i t u a t i o n | whereby |
| t h e | c o n j o l n e d | terms | may | be | a p p l i e d | e i t h e r | c u m u l a t i v e l y | o r | I n | t h e |
| a l t e r n a t i v e . | It | f o l l o w s | t h a t | w h a t e v e r | d i f f i c u l t i e s | t h e r e | may | be |
| w i t h | t h e | t e r m s | o f | t h e | d e c l a r a t i o n , | t h e | d e c l a r a t i o n | d o e s | n o t |
| r e q u i r e | t h a t | t h e | s o l u t i o n | m u s t | contain | benzene. | The | term |
| "and /o r " | appea r s | be fo re | t he | word | "benzene". | The | word | "o r " |
| app l l e s t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e d e c l a r a t l o n t h a t | t he | t e rm | "benzene" . | Nor | i s | I t , | I | t h i n k , | a | proper |
| t h e | s o l u t i o n | is | t o c o n t a i n |
| a l l | t h r e e | or | a l t e r n a t i v e l y | o n l y | o n e | o f | t h e | t h ree | e l emen t s . | The |
| te rm | "and/or" | sugges ts | t h a t | a | combinat ion | of | two | e lements | i s |
p e r m l s s l b l e .
| I | r e a d | t h e | e x p r e s s l o n | a | s | r e q u i r i n g | t h a t | t h e | s o l u t i o n | c o n t a i n | a l l |
| t h ree | e l emen t s , | a ce tone , | po lyv iny l | ace t a t e | and | benzene ; | o r |
| a l t e r n a t l v e l y , | t h a t | i t | c o n t a i n | a c e t o n e | and | e l t h e r | p o l y v m y l |
| a c e t a t e | o r | benzene. | I | t h l n k | t h a t | t h i s | i n t e r p r e t a t i o n | i s | c l e a r |
| and | t h a t | it | is no t | necessa ry | t o | cons ide r | wha t | migh t | be | t he |
6 .
| consequence i f | t h e d e c l a r a t i o n | were | e i t h e r | u n c e r t a l n | or | ambiguous |
| i n t h i s | r e g a r d . | When | t h e d e c l a r a t i o n | i s | r e a d | i n | t h i s | s e n s e , | t h e |
| subjec t | goods | , | which | conta ln | bo | th | ace tone | and | po | lyvinyl | ace ta te , |
| come | w i t h i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e g o o d s o f w h i c h t h e d e c l a r a t i o n |
speaks.
| T h e | s u b j e c t | g o o d s | w e r e | n o v e l t i e s | d e s i g n e d | f o r | b l o w i n g |
| bal loon-l ike | shapes | f rom | a | s o l u t i o n c o n t a i n i n g a c e t o n e , | p o l y v i n y l |
| acetate | and/or | benzene. | No | witness | s a i d | t h a t | t h e | s u b l e c t | g o o d s |
| were | of | the | same | kind | as t h e named | n o v e l t i e s . | N e v e r t h e l e s s , | a s |
| no | issue | was | r a i s e d | by | Mr. | G i n n a n e | r e s p e c t i n g | t h i s , | a s | Mr. |
| V e a l e ' s | r e c o r d | of | i n t e r v i e w | c o n t a i n s | a n t e r m s | a d m i s s i o n | t h a t | t h e |
| s u b j e c t | g o o d s | " . . . w o u l d | a p p e a r | t o | f a l l | w l t h l n | t h e | o f | t h e |
| Minister's | banning | order , | .. ." and a s | o n e | o | f | t h e | s p e c i f i c | g o o d s |
| mentioned | i n t h e | d e c l a r a t i o n | i s | "bubb-a-loons", | I | c o n c l u d e | t h a t |
| i t is d e c l a r a t i o n . | b e y o n d | d o u b t | t h a t | t h e | g o o d s | s a t i s f i e d | t h e | terms | o f | t h e |
| It | was | fu r the r | submi t t ed | by | Mr. | G i n n a n e | t h a t | t h e | t r a n s a c t i o n |
| between | the | defendant | and | M r . | W h i t t l n g s l o w | d i d | n o t | f a l l | w i t h i n |
| t h e | t e r m s | o | f | s . 6 2 ( l ) ( b ) | w h l c h | p r o v i d e s | : |
| " 6 2 . ( 1 ) | A | c o r p o r a t i o n | s h a l l | n o t , | t r a d e | i n | or |
| commerce , | supply | goods | tha t | a re | in tended | to | be |
| used , | or | a r e | o f | a | k i n d | l i k e l y | t o | b e | u s e d , | b y | a |
| consumer | i f t he | goods | a r e | o f | a | kind - |
| ..... |
| ( b ) | i n r e s p e c t of | which | t h e r e | is i n | f o r c e | a | n o t i c e |
| under | t h i s | s e c t i o n | d e c l a r i n g | t h e | g o o d s | t o | b e |
| unsafe | goods." |
| Mr. | Ginnane | submi t ted | tha t | the | sublec | t | goods | were | no | t | in tended | to |
| be | used | and | were | not | of | a | k l n d | l i k e l y | t o | b | e | u s e d | b y | a | consumer. |
| He | s u b m i t t e d | t h a t | t h e | r e f e r e n c e | t o | a | "consumer" | requi res | one | to |
| have | r ega rd | t o | t he | terms o f s.4B | which | p rov ides | t ha t | a | person |
| s h a l l | be | t aken | t o | have | acqu i r ed | pa r t l cu la r | goods | a s | a consumer | If |
| and | o n l y i f t h e d e t a i l e d p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e s e c t i o n a r e | met. |
1 .
| I would | n o t | d i s p u t e | t h a t | t h e | u s e | o f | t h e | term | "consumer" | i n |
| s . 6 2 ( 1 ) | r e q u r r e s | o n e | t o | h a v e | r e g a r d | t o | agd | t o | g l v e e f f e c t | t o | t h e |
| terms | of | s . 4 B . | Mr. | Ginnane, | however , | then | sought | to | draw | an |
| i n f e r e n c e | t h a t | t h e | terms | o f | s . 4 B | app ly | on ly | t o | commerc la l |
| t r a n s a c t i o n s | and | n o t | t o | c i r c u m s t a n c e s | s u c h | a | s | t h o s e | i n | w h i c h | Mr. |
| Whl t t i ngs low | d i s t r ibu ted | t he | sub jec t | goods | as | p r i zes , | wh ich |
| c i rcumstance | he | sa id | d | id | no t | amount | t o | a | commerc ia l | t ransac t ion . |
| M r . | Ginnane | submitted; | "...it 1s c l e a r | p a r l i a m e n t | d i d | n o t | i n t e n d |
| t o r e g u l a t e g i f t s | o r | g r v e | aways." |
| Mr. | G i n n a n e | s o u g h t | t o | d r a w | t h i s | i n f e r e n c e | f i r s t | f r o m | t h e |
| d e f i n i t i o n | o f | t h e | word | " a c q u i r e " | i n | s . 4 ( 1 ) which | provides | : |
| " 4 . ( 1 ) | I n | t h i s | Act, | u n l e s s | t h e | c o n t r a r y | i n t e n t i o n |
| appears | - |
| ' a c q u i r e ' | i n c l u d e s | - |
| ( a ) | i n | r e l a t i o n | t o | g o o d s | - | a c q u i r e by | way | of |
| purchase, | exchange | or | t a k i n g | o n | l e a s e , |
| o n h i r e | o r | on hire-purchase;" . |
| B u t | t h i s d e f i n i t i o n , i n | my | view, | i s n o t | a | l i m i t i n g d e f i n i t i o n b u t |
| r a t h e r | a | d e f i n i t i o n | which | expands | the | ordinary | meaning | of | the |
| word | t o | i n c l u d e | m a t t e r s | s u c h | as | l e a s i n g | and | h i r l n g , | which | i n t h e |
| ord | inary | use | o | f | l anguage | may | n o t c o n s t l t u t e a n a c q u i s i t r o n . |
| The t e rms and r t is clear f rom | "acqu i re" | and | " supp ly" | a r e | de f ined | rn | a | similar manner, |
| p rov i s ions | such | a s | t hose | o f | s . 65 | t ha t | t he |
| term | "supply" | i s i n t e n d e d | t o | comprehend | t h e supp ly o f goods | to | a |
| person who | is merely a | p a s s r v e | r e c i p i e n t . | T h e r e f o r e , | no |
| i n f e r e n c e | c a n | be | drawn | from | the | u s e | i n | s . 4 B | o f | t h e | word |
| "acquired", | which | 1s indeed a common word of the Englrsh | language |
| w i t h | a | very wide meaning. |
| M r . | Glnnane | next | sought | to | d | raw | h | is | in ference | f rom | the | re fe rence |
| i n s . 4 B | t o a | " p r i c e " , | a | term | of | commerce. | B u t t h e | s e c t i o n | makes |
| p r o v l s i o n | f o r | t h e | c a l c u l a t i o n | o f | a | " p r i c e " | i n a | case | where | the |
| r e l e v a n t | t r a n s a c t i o n | d o e s | n o t | i t se l f | d e t e r m i n e | t h e | " p r i c e " . | Of |
| t h e s e | p r o v i s i o n s , | t h e | terms | of | paragraph | 4 B ( 2 ) ( d ) | a p p l y | e q u a l l y |
8.
| a s w e l l impl ica t ion | t o | a | g i f t | a s | t o | a | commerc ia l | t ransac t ion . | Therefore | no | , |
| can | be | d rawn | from | t h e | u s e | o f | t h e | word | " p r i c e " |
| l imi t ing | t he | o rd lna ry | mean lng | of | the | t e rms | used | in | s.4B. |
| Mr. | Ginnane | next | sought | to | d | raw | an intended | in ference | f rom | the | p rovis ions |
| o f P a r t | V | which he | said | were | to | apply | only | to | commercial |
| t r a n s a c t i o n s . | A s | I | have | po in t ed | ou t , | s.65 | d e a l s | s p e c i f i c a l l y |
| with | t h e | s u p p l y | o f | i n s o l i c i t e d | g o o d s | and | s.54 | d e a l s | w i t h | t h e |
| o f f e r | of | g i f t s , | p r i z e s | o r | o t h e r | f r e e | i t e m s . | I | see | n o t h i n g | i n |
| t h e | p r o v i s i o n s | o | f | P a r t | V | w h i c h | j u s t l f y | t h e | r e a d i n g | down | of | t h e |
| terms | o f | s.4B | o r , | f o r t h a t | matter, | wh ich sugges t t ha t t he t ype | o f |
| business | which | was | conducted | by | Mr. Whit t ings low's company was |
| no t | i n t ended | t o | be | comprehended | by | t he | p rov i s ions | o | f | D iv i s lon | 1 |
| o f P a r t | V. |
| Mr. Ginnane | next | submit ted | that | the | subject | goods | had | no | va lue |
| because | it was | u n l a w f u l | t o | s u p p l y | them i n | t r a d e | o r commerce. | He |
| subml t t ed | t ha t | t he | p rov i s lons | o f | s.4B | t h e r e f o r e | d i d | n o t | a p p l y . |
| A s c e n t s | the goods were so ld by | the | defendant | to | Mr. Whlttingslow f o r 8 |
| e a c h , | i t | seems | d i f f i c u l t | t o | c o n c l u d e | t h a t | i n | f a c t | t h e y | had |
| no | value. | B u t | even | i f | t h e i r | v a l u e | was | n i l , | t h a t | would | n o t |
| p r e c l u d e | t h e | o p e r a t i o n | o f | S .4B. | Sec t ion | 4B | prov ides , | i n t e r |
| a l i a , | t h a t | : |
| "4B. (1) For the | purposes | o f | t h i s | A c t , | u n l e s s | t h e |
| c o n t r a r y i n t e n t l o n a p p e a r s | - |
| ( a ) | a | pe r son | sha l l | be | t aken | have | t o | acqu i r ed |
| p a r t i c u l a r | g o o d s | a s | a | consumer | i f , and | only |
| i f - |
| (i) | t h e | p r i c e | o f | t h e | goods | did | not | exceed |
| the | p re sc r ibed amoun t ; " . |
| That i s $15,000. | Even | i f | t h e | p r i c e | b e | deemed | t o | b e | n i l | b e c a u s e |
| the | va | lue | o | f | t he goods | was | n l l , t h i s p r o v i s i o n | was | s a t i s f i e d , f o r |
| t h e p r i c e | n i l d id | not | exceed | the | prescr | ibed | amount | . |
| I t | fo l lows , | i n | my | o p i n i o n , | t h a t | t h e r e | was | a | supp ly | by | t he |
| d e f e n d a n t | t o | Mr. | Whi t t ings low | of | goods | tha t | were | in tended | to | be |
9.
| used and which | were | of | a | k ind | l l ke ly | t o | be | u sed | by a consumer. |
| It was | n o t | s u g g e s t e d | t h a t | t h e | supply | was | n o t | a | s u p p l y | i n | t h e |
| cour se of | t r a d e | o r | commerce | and | c l e a r l y it was. | The | supply was |
| o f | goods | i n | r e spec t | o f | wh | lch | t he re | was | i n | f o r c e | a | not lce | under |
| s.62 | d e c l a r i n g | t h e | goods | t o | unsafe | be | goods. | There | was, |
| t h e r e f o r e , | a | breach of | s.62(1). |
| T h e r e f o r e , | t h e d e f e n d a n t | w l l l | be | convicted. |
| I cer t i fy that | this and the K.. | . |
preceding pages are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of
| h i s Honour Mr. | Justice Davies . |
| ........ ...... &LW+, | ABB6EiBE |
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