SALE OF GOODS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5059, 1 December 1926, Page 1

SALE OF GOODS.

WEIGHTS AND

PROTECTION FOR THE PUBLIC.

The Weights and Measures Act, 1925, designed to make better, provision for the sale of goods by weight ajid measurement, is to come into (force on January 1, and the Labour Department has drafted regulations, which have been submitted to traders and others concerned for consideration so that suggestions 'for possible improvement of the proposal may be made to good time. In the replies received by the department general approval is expressed Of the idea of standardisation of weights and measures with a view to Dominio'n uniformity.

The Act hitherto in force has required merely that weighing and measuring appliances used for trade purposes shall bet correct, and when found correct by the inspectors shall be stamped by them l . It ha<s not been made an offence to sell short weight or measure, nor has the Act purported to control in .any other way the manner in which got ds may he weight.d or measured. The Sale of Foods and Drugs Act. 1908, and the regulations issued thereunder, however, make provision tot ensure the sale of correct weight and measure of certain foods and drugs; and these provisions are still in force. The regulations under 'the nqw Weights and Measures Act are basel upon those in operation in England, South Africa, and to New South Wales, while a large number of the cUusfts in the present New Zealand law are ,also embodied.. For the most part, the New South WalQs regulations hhve been used. NO SHORT WEIGHT. The new Act requires, in addition to correct weighing and measuring appliances, that no goods, shall be sold short of the weight or measure demanded or represented ; that goods sold by retail by weight or measure shall, except those specially exempted by regulation, be sold only by net weight or measure ; that where g'-ods coming under the letter category are delivered the seller shall, except, in the case o f exempted goods, or goods weighed or measured at the purchaser’s premises, furnish an invoice «r delivery note showing the net weight or measure; and that where goods are sold or exhibited ‘for sale by retail already made up in a| package at the seller’s shop, the net weight or measure must be legibly shown thereon. In the case of goods whose weight may vary on account of climatic conditions' the words “Net weight when packed” must be shown on the package. Retailers are required to have approved weighing or measuring machines. so placed in their shops as to be easily seen, by customers. The proposed, regulations permit, as in Great Britain and other countries, of a certain maximum margin of error to. weighing and measuring appliances.