STANDARDS BILL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23448, 1 October 1941, Page 8

STANDARDS BILL

DISCUSSION IN UPPER HOUSE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 30. The second reading debate on the Standards Bill was disposed of by the Legislative Council, which met at 2.30 p.m, to-day. Support for the principles of standardisation were expressed by all of the speakers. The Leader of the Council (the Hon. D. Wilson,) said that standardisation would eliminate waste in time, money, and material, would stabilise quality and prices, and would increase the standard of living. The Hon. J. Cotter said that there was a great need for standardisation of dairy' and farm implements. Much time was lost because spare parts were not readily available, but if all machines were of similar make that difficulty would be removed. Farmers had to produce up to standard, and had the right to purchase standard goods. The Hon. V. Ward asked if standards would help to eliminate the advertising and sale of useless patent medicines. Mr Wilson, in reply, said that they could not prove that patent medicines would cure, but they could see that the ingredients were up to standard. The whole question of patent medicines was under consideration. The bill was read a second time, and the Auckland Centennial Memorial Park Bill was read a first time. The Council adjourned at 4.40 p.m.