WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 July 1925, Page 5

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

IMPORTANT NEW PROVISIONS

A GOVERNMENT BILL

FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. WELLINGTON, July 16. A comprehensive Bill of over 40 clauses, to make provision for a better svstem of weights and measures, has been introduced by the Minister for Labour (Hon. G. J. Anderson). It sets out 'the Imperial standards to be followed in New Zealand. These must be observed under a penalty of £lO. All goods sold by weight shall be by avoirdupois except gold, silver, precious metals, precious stones and drugs. It is specifically proposed that charcoal, coal and coke shall be sold only bv weight. .‘The net weight of goods in packages must lx* ccarl.v stated thereon, hi each of this provision rendering an offender liable to a fine up to £SO. Goods subject to variation owing to climate must be marked with the net weight when packed. . The penalty for interference with verified weights or for the forging of weights or measures is up to £IOO, and the Magistrate i s empowered, if of the opinion that the offence was committed with intent to defraud, to impose a term of imprisonment not exceeding two months and order publication of the conviction. The Bill provides for a national standard of weights and measures, with local verified copies. Clause 14 reads: The Governor-General may at any time, by proclamation, declare that from -and after a late named in the proclamation the metric system shall be the onlr system of weights and measures recognised for use in New Zealard; and thereafter it shah not be lawful to use any weights and nnasures other than those describee in the third schedule of this Act