Commerce Commission v L D Nathan & Co Ltd - [1990] 2 NZLR 160

Criminal law — Sentence — Fair Trading Act offences — Sentencing policy discussed — Sale of children's night clothes which did not comply with safety standards and were incorrectly labelled — Inadvertent failure by two national companies (Nathans and Farmers) to ensure that offending goods did not go on sale — Fair Trading Act provided for a maximum fine against each company of $100,000 — Nathans were fined $3000 for two offences and Farmers was fined $5000 for four offences — Whether the fines were inadequate — Observations as to desirability of consistency in sentencing policy with comparable Australian legislation — Fair Trading Act 1986, s 40.