TRADE AND HONESTY.

Evening Star, Issue 11692, 25 September 1902, Page 7

TRADE AND HONESTY.

to TH* KBItOiL Sir, —permit jam to relate some of nry recent experiences’, which, irt view of the recent almost universal rise in the prices of articles of food, ate not without significance. My suspicion being reused that irt soma cases the weights and measures of articles purchased from tradespeople were below the standard, I furnished my house with scales and measures for the purpose of testing the matter fairly, for when in a few cases doubt had been expressed to the shopmen there was Some very indigrtant protestation of injured righetotisness. The first test was made with On? mi!fr supply, j ttst after -one of the rises ill price of that indispensable commodity, when I foind my suspicion justified. A few mornings I personally received the supply, which I observed was not measured, but scooped up from an almost empty can by a pint measure. On asking the milk boy to hold his measure so that I might measure it out accurately into his can he hesitated, but ultimately complied, and without telling him my reason-for what I was doing, he got a demonstration of the unpleasant truth that ho had give a short measure by about a quarter of a pint. The other day I called at the butcher with whom wo deal, ordered and paid for a small quantity of beefsteak, to be delivered. When it reached the house it was weighed irt the presence of the messenger, who saw it was 60s short of the amount | it should have weighed. One day this week 1 purchased at one of the most respectable groceries in the City what were charged for aalflb cheese and 11b bacon, which, on bring weighed at home. With aB the wrappers, paper, and string, turned out tt> be lib 9!jts cheese and 14oz bacon. These are only a few instances or illustrations of What oho may find Warty of, but they are enoush to Wafrt people to look to their own interests, and insist on seeing their purchases weighed, And checking the carelessness or otherwise of shopmen. Bakers are liable to prosecution and fine if their loaves art not Up to the standard; coalmen may be compelled to weigh their coal to the purchasers 1 satisfaction, or run the gauntlet of the law; gfocefS, butchers, ete M are required to keep Certified weights and scales, out it is apparent we will have to get art Act of Parliament passed trt make them responsible for defrauding either by carelessness or intent by sending out goods of less weight than they charge for, mort particularly in these days of high prices.— 1 am, etc, Osoabß RtrbVt. September 24.