2001-04-09
Now, does this mean that trading Standards officials will begin to prosecute
others who are out of compliance? Does this ruling give them the go-ahead?
Can we expect more seizures and fines in the near future? Maybe even
tomorrow? Did the DTI or whoever is in charge have a plan to put into
effect if the verdict was in their favour? Any comments?
As for dual scales, are these scales changeable from pounds to kilograms
easily, or does someone have to open up the scale to get at the switch? If
a trader has a dual scale, and has it set to pounds mode, is he in violation
of the law? If kilogram only weighing is all that is permitted, then why
are dual scales permitted? what is to stop a merchant from switching the
scale from kilograms to pounds when no one is looking?
John
Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrt�mlich glaubt
frei zu sein.
There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they
are free!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nat Hager III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, 2001-04-09 18:55
Subject: [USMA:12114] RE: MM convicted
> BWMA has already taken notice. A couple clicks into www.bwma.org.uk
>
> Think we got 'em on the run for now. The important thing is keep buying
> time.
>
> Nat
>
> LATEST
> 1600 hrs 9th April 01
>
> According to radio news Steve Thoburn has been found guilty of the charges
> laid against him. No details yet but we will update as soon as we are
able.
>
> Comments so far:
> This is a very sad day for Britain. This decision once and for all
> demonstrates that a British Law, approved by our democratically elected
> Parliament in Westminster, can be over-ridden by a directive from the
> bureaucratic dictatorship in Brussels. Our laws are now made by
> unaccountable bureaucrats and politicians based in another country.
> Centuries of independence through our much envied and copied Parliamentary
> democracy have been wiped away at a stroke. (Jeffrey Titford, UKIP)
>
> "This is a portentous day in our history because this decision has very
> effectively confirmed how ineffectual and meaningless our Parliament at
> Westminster has been allowed to become. I find it despicable that a
> directive from Brussels has been allowed to over-rule an Act of
Parliament.
> It shows just how much successive Governments have been negligent in their
> duty to protect our Parliamentary democracy and the laws of the land."
(Lord
> Stoddart, Chairman CIB)
>
> One writer - Stewart Steven in the Mail on Sunday - has sought to belittle
> this campaign. BWMA's reply is on our News pages.
>
>
> From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1269000/1269043.stm
>
>
> A market trader has been convicted of breaking weights and measures
> legislation by selling his fruit in pounds and ounces in the first
> prosecution of its kind in Britain.
> Sunderland City Council took fruit-and-veg trader Steven Thoburn to court
> for refusing to convert to European-approved metric measures and selling
his
> goods in kilos and grammes.
>
> Mr Thoburn, 36, who appeared before Sunderland magistrates, now faces a
> maximum fine of �1,000 on each of two offences and court costs estimated
to
> run up to �60,000.
>
> He was convicted of breaching the Weights and Measures Act 1985 in a
hearing
> which district judge Bruce Morgan said centred around the "most famous
bunch
> of bananas in legal history".
>
> In his ruling, the judge said he was aware that regardless of the verdict
> the case would be going to appeal.
>
> "It has been made clear to me that despite the decision of this court the
> matter will be taken elsewhere," he said.
>
> Mr Thoburn, who denied the charges, attracted huge support for his fight
> against the weights and measures legislation.
>
> His case was taken up by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) which believes
the
> outcome could decide the future of the nation's weights and measures
system.
>
> The legal battle started last summer when local authority trading
standards
> officers seized Mr Thoburn's scales.
>
> Metric campaigners
>
> Mr Thoburn and his fellow trader Neil Herron, a fishmonger who has also
been
> ordered to change his scales, were described by some as "metric martyrs"
and
> a legal expenses fund was set up.
>
> UKIP solicitor Tony Bennett said at the time: "This is not about one
trader
> taking on his local council, the implications are huge.
>
> "The eyes of Europe will be on Sunderland while this case is in progress
> because it will decide the future of our traditional weights and
measures."
>
> Mr Thoburn, who is now using dual measure scales, gathered support from
> shoppers to hand over a 5,000-signature petition to Downing Street.
>
> His campaign was also backed by a number of celebrities from the
> entertainment world.
>
> European regulations
>
> Europe's 1994 Units of Measurements Regulations came into effect on 1
> January last year.
>
> Trading standards officers seized Mr Thoburn's scales from his market
stall
> in Southwick, Sunderland, on 4 July 2000, following the introduction of
the
> directive.
>
> Sunderland City Council said the father-of-two had failed to comply with a
> notice issued by its officers to convert to metric measures at his stall.
>
> But Mr Thoburn's legal team believes British traders have a legal right to
> use imperial measures under the provisions of the 1985 Weights and
Measures
> Act.
>
> They have argued that the government gave assurances that stallholders
could
> continue to use imperial measures.
>
>
> John
>
> Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrt�mlich glaubt
> frei zu sein.
>
> There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe
they
> are free!
>
> Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
>
>
