The Weights and Measures Act. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST CITY TRADESMEN.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 126, 26 November 1888, Page 3

The Weights and Measures Act. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST CITY TRADESMEN.

As tlio result of a recent inspection by Constable Dunoan, Inspector ot Weights and Measures, a number of prosecutions against several European and Chinese tradesmen under the Act came before Mr. H_. W. Robinson, 8.H., this mornr in.?. In 1 several instoncei drapers were proceeded against for haying unstamped yard-stioka in their possession. It was not urged against thfl defendants that the measures were short, but simply that they had not been duly stamped, 'as is required by the Aofc. In one of the oasis, preferred against John Kirkcaldie, draper, it waß urged that as the defendant's measure was, stamped by the Corporation of London in accordance with the English Act, it was not necessary to have it rcstomped in the colony. His Worship reserved deoision upon the point. Fines of ss, with 7s costs, were impo.ed in the cases against J. M. Riohardson, Joseph Slater, J. S. M. Thompson (for whom Mr. Treadwell appeared), James Smith, and W. Brunskill, the defendants in each instance pleading guilty. Arthur- Walker waa fined 2s 6d, without costs, for being the possessor of an unstamped quart moosure, and Geo. Jackson ss, with 7s coats, for a similar offenoe in respeot to a half-pint measure. R. Martin was fined 5?, with costs, for having nogleotcd to take the precaution of getting an 601b weight which he possessed stamped. The Inspector also preferred a oase against Louis Levien, tobacconist, who was acoused of having had in his possession a four dram weight which was unstamped. Mr. Skerrett. who appeared for the defendant, pleaded not guilty, urging that the breach of the Aot was purely of a technical character, the weight being one that was never brought into use. He further contended that it was not necessary that weights used for weighing drugs should be up to the standard weight, and argued that tobacco was a narootio drug. The defendant stated, that he was not aware the weight was in his shop, it having been brought there by his assistant, who pioked it up. All the remaining weights in his possession were duly stamped. The Court imposed a fine of 2s 6d, without costs, holding that a teohnioal offence had been committed. A Chinese storekeeper named Hong Kew appeared on summons charging him with having been possessed of a peck measure which was unstamped. Mr. Menteath, who appeared for the defence, pleaded Not Guilty, and contended that as the measures were neither marked nor were represented to be standard measures, the Act did not apply in the case bjfore tho Conrt. His Worship upheld the contention, and dismissed the case. A similar charge against Joe Key was withdrawn by the Inspector, who, however, ?iroseouted the defendant in another direcion, aoousing him of having had in his possession a half-peck measure, whioh, on being tested, was found to be one quart short of the proper measurement. Mr. Menteath defended. Hiß Worship deemed the evidence sufficient to convict, a:d imposed a fine of ss, with costs. A similar case against Wong She, for whom Mr. Mentefith also appeared, was dismissed fir the same reason as the case of Hong Kew.