TRICKS OF TRADE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1732, 5 January 1888, Page 3

TRICKS OF TRADE

♦ — Tbe annual report of the Sydney In* ipeotor of Weights and Measures generally gives a good deal of information as to tbe "tricks of trade." la his latest report be says :— " Tea is now being v ordered to contain 351 b and ie «old to consumers at 401 b. A cunning aoheme is said to be practised with tobacco. Tbe pings are supposed to be made at 8, 10, or 12 to the ponnd. Now, if 9, 11, or 13 be made, when two orthtfee ' •re given for £b, not weighed, of eonne the profit is obvious. Jams are • oi varied weights and quality, costing 1 eetaii from 4d to 8d per tin, some being < actually unfit for human food. Ctffae, 1 ■pice, »nd el mil* r goods sold m tins are , •Inoost always sold gross weight ; thus, ■ Is6dtcr4s per lb is given for oanislers. Fruit still continnes to be of deficient ■ ftttaaure m the matket, which no 1 means are apparently provided to prevent. | It wouli appear that there is argent \ seed for some system affording better j pfotoetion to purchasers of balk goods at , tho fruit and vegetable markets. Potatoes,, onions, peas, beans, and ' measured fruits are almost invariably ' •hort of their proper quantities. Among < other things brought under my notice we serious complaints concerning prac* : tfoea obtaining m the sale of jewellery. ; On Inquiry, leading business men itate 1 that it if almost impossible to sell honestly Kftdt gold articles, because rolled gold, 1 nine, or even seven, carat gold are ( openly marked 15 or 18, and sold as sneh. I • Brommtgem ' and like descriptions of j ware are cold as handsome solid gold, yet filled inside with lead or other bsse ] metal, Nomt>eis of persons male a good living here m fixing up these goods."