SHORT MEASURE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 September 1924, Page 3

SHORT MEASURE.

PROTECTION FOR THE CUSTOMER. NEED FOR EXTENDED LEGISLATION. ( “Except in tlie case of coal, coke, 'and fireavood,” states the Secretary of Labour (Mr F. W. Rowley) in his annual report, “the present legislation in regard to weights and measures does not apply to the weight of goods sold, but merely requires that the weighing or measuring appliances shall be accurate. The Sale of Foods and Drugs Act, which is administered by the Department of Health, provides certain protective measures against the sale of short weight or measure as far as food is concerned, but there is a need for legislation making it an offence to sell any goods less in weight or measure than that purported to be, sold. This applies especially to goods already made up in quantities for sale. The Union of South Africa Weights and Measures Act, 1922, one of the most recently enacted dealing with weights and measures, provides that any person who by means of words, description, 01 other indication, direct or indirect makes any false, incorrect, or untrue statement as. to number, quantity, measure, gauge, or weight of anv goods sold by him, or who otherwise'sells or causes .to be- sold, or delivers or causes to. be delivered, to a purchaser, anytmng by weight, or measure short of the quantity demanded of or represented by the seller, shall be guilty of an offence. Similar legislation exists an New South Wales and several of the American States. I reebmmend that similar measures might be adopted here.”

Arrangements are being made by the Labour Department to provide better facilities to enable owners of scales to present their appliances for periodical leverification. The regulations prescribe that within ten miles of the offices of the. inspectors situated, in the sixteen chief and secondary towns of the Dominion owners shall present all appliances other tlian spring balances annually for reverific'ation, while spring balances must be reverified eve-tv six months.. Where possible, inspectors will visit, the more populous suburbs and arrange for temporary offices for the purpose, of carrying out this work, thus saving the, owners the.necessity of having to convey their appliances over long .distances. Any owner may also, if he so desires, arrange ' with the inspector to reverify his appliances on his own piemises, in which case the owner must pay any expenses incurred by the insjieetor.