?<—_&. S.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, ETC.

5

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Dr. Hector in attendance, and examined. 1. Chairman.'] Tou received, I believe, certain samples of articles of food and liquors from the Inspector of Police for the purpose of analysis ? —I did. I have written out a memorandum, giving the results of such analysis in each case, and also of the weights of loaves of bread which were tested by me. (Memorandum attached.) There are many other common articles of food, such as butter and pickles, which were not submitted to me, and which I think might be largely adulterated. The probability of bad results ensuing from adulteration is greatly increased by the fact that the operator is generally an unqualified person, ignorant of the natures of different drugs. 2. Can you make any suggestions on the subject of the further analysis of samples ?—I think that the whole thing requires to be gone into in a more leisurely and complete manner. I would suggest that samples of articles of food and liquors be obtained from all the Provinces and submitted to the Government Analyst. This collection of samples should be as complete as possible, and great care should be taken in obtaining, packing, and forwarding them. They should be sent in carefully cleaned and dried glass-stoppered bottles, and should be sealed by the person to whom the report is to be made. Each package should be distinguished by a letter or mark signed and dated by the sender. I will furnish the Committee with a list of the quantities which will be required of each article. (List attached.) I would state that at present the Government Laboratory is inconveniently crowded, and that, should these suggestions be carried out, increased accommodation would be required, and also that about £67 would have to be expended by the Government in obtaining the necessary apparatus and appliances, which must be specially reserved for this purpose. I submit a list of the articles that would have to be bought. (List attached.) 3. Have you any observations to make on the subject of weights and measures ? —I would remark that there is at present no proper accommodation at the Museum for the Weights and Measures Department, and no one whose business it is to give their attention to this department. I believe that tho importation and sale of gasoline is under the supervision of the Inspector of Weights and Measures. I would suggest that gasoline is an exceedingly dangerous article, and I have reason to believe that it is being sold in New Zealand. Mr. E. Atchison in attendance, and examined. 4. Chairman.'] You are Inspector of Police for the Province of Wellington ? —I am. 5. Acting on a conversation I had with you at your office, what steps did you take ?—On Thursday last I directed Sergeant Monaghan to obtain samples of various articles of food and drink for analyzation; at the same time I impressed upon him the necessity for secrecy in carrying out those instructions. He was to procure samples of various articles, which would be numbered, and the date on which and the name of the person from whom purchased registered, after which, they would be sent to the Colonial Museum for the purposes of analyzation, bearing a number only. 6. Have you a list of the articles so purchased? —I have, [list produced] but it does not state the quantities : they were mostly small. 7. Have you seen a paragraph which has appeared in the local papers ?—I have, but I think all the samples were procured prior to its appearance. 8. Did you give any information to the papers respecting this matter ? —I did not. 9. Mr. Waring Taylor.] The Sergeant is well known, is he not ? —Tes, but it was imperative to send a trustworthy man. 10. Mr. Maeffarlane.] Was the Sergeant in uniform ?—I do not know. Mr. Commissioner Branigan in attendance, and examined. 11. Chairman.] Tou are Commissioner of Armed Constabulary ?—lam. 12. Tou have had a good deal of experience in matters connected with weights and measures?—l have, from having had to carry out the law. 13. What is your opinion of the present law? —I am of opinion that it requires to be considerably simplified, and that power should be delegated to some one person in the Colony as a general head. There should be, as in Ireland, a colonial standard with which all standards and sub-standards should be compared and issued to the various Provinces under the supervision of the general head referred to, and I think it would be highly beneficial if the administration of the law with respect to weights and measures were left in the hands of the police. I may state that this is done in Victoria, and that I was just getting the system into work in Otago when I left. The system carried out in Ireland is as follows : — By the 5 and 6 of William IV., c. 63, sec. 19, it is enacted that as many copies as may be requisite of the Imperial standard weights and measures shall be provided in each county or city or town. The custody of the county standards is in tho County Inspectors of Weights and Measures appointed by the Grand Jury under the Act above cited. The same Act empowers the Grand Jury to name a Sub-Inspector of Constabulary, subject to the approval of the Inspector-General, who shall be charged with the duty of comparing the sub-standards with the county standards, and of adjusting and stamping such substandards, and to these duties his powers under the Act are exclusively limited. He has nothing, therefore, to do with the weights and measures of traders. This comparison is made once in the year at least, and at such other times as the County Inspector of Constabulary or the Justices in Petty Sessions shall require. The Act above cited also empowers the County Inspector of Constabulary to name (subject to the approval of the Magistrates) one or more head or other constables in each Petty Sessions 2