COUNTRY BAKERS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1173, 2 May 1872, Page 2

COUNTRY BAKERS.

[to the editor.]

Sir— During the last session of the County Council there was great disapprobation expressed both by the general public and the members themselves at the dismissal of that " very useful and inde: fatigable public officer" (as -he was then styled) "the Inspector of Weights and i Measures,"; and a petition was set. on foot and transmitted to the . General Government praying for his re-instalraent, which was acceded to. May I inquire, through your columns, if that, officer's duties extend to this district^ of arerthey confined to Hokitika only ? '■ '■■■ ' . lean assure you he is greatly needed in this district (New River). The miners have to pay Is 3d for a so-called 41b loaf, and we 'have trusted so^ entirely to' -the honesty of the bakers that it never occurred to us to test it. No later than yesterday week (22nd), . I procured two 41b loaves from Marsden, and on weigh*.- . ing them found 13oz shorb. On Thursday last (25th), I weighed two, more from another baker in this locality (Clifton), and found the supposed 81b" of bread to weigh exactly 6flb. After this surely we require some vigilant officer among .•■us, „ It is well these bakers are not in. Melbourne. . , . I refrain from mentioning names, but ; the baker the "cap fits let him wear it." . lam, &c, ; Edwd. O'Neil. New River, April 30, 1872. [Tho Inspector of Weights .and Mea-\ sures for the County of Westland l lias been in the district for a week or more, , and has been busily engaged during that time in adjusting tradesmen's weights, &c. He has under the Bakers and Millers Act no power to interfere, no matter how unjust bakers may be. The prosecution of offenders of this kind lies entirely iv the hands of the police, who are armed with immense powers, if they think -fit' to exercise them. The Inspector therefore must be held blameless.]— Ed.