WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 36

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

PROVISIONS OF ACT. PROTECTION FOR THE PUBLIC. WELLINGTON, January 18. The new Weights and Measures Act and regulations now in force are framed to require the correct weight or measure of goods being given to customers; also that - certain classes of goods, which are specified, • shall be sold by net weight or measure to be shown on the packages, and on the delivery notes or invoices, and that certain classes of goods must be sold by the full pound or half-pound. In order to make the position clear, said Mr F. W Rowley,-Secretary of Labour, it might be explained that the Act and regu-. " ■ lations hitherto in force applied, except in the case of coal and firewood, only to the weighing and measuring appliances That is to say, all the department could do W’as to inspect these appliances and see that they were satisfactory and correct. It had no control over the method of selling goods. In order to ensure correct weight or measure being given to customers, the new Act gives this authority to the department. For example, section 23 of the Act makes it an offence for any dealer to sell or deliver any goods short of the quantity asked for or represented Further, section 18 requires certain goods that are sold retail to be sold only by net weight or measure.* That is to say. the weight or measure of the container shall not be counted. This ap plies to all goods that are not exempted from its provisions in the regulations. The goods exempted, which are set out ' in part 5 of the regulations, include the following:—Aerated waters, summer drinks, non-dutiable fermented drinks, alcoholic liquors, which are subject to Customs duty, anchovies, calves-feet jelly in tins or bottles, cheese (not including cheese pastes or prepared cheese), chutney in bottles, cider, pure fruit cordials and syrilps. flavoured cordials and syrups, artificial cordials and syrups, compound cordials, curry powder, dried fruits, fish in uns, food substances sold with directions to dilute to a definite amount or to taste (infants foods, prepared milk foods, and condensed or dried milk excepted), pickles in bottles, proprietary medicines, cigars and cigarettes, yeast in packages, paints and colours packed in quantities of less than 2oz weight or two fluid ounce measurement, and other articles numbering 45 in all. In addition to stipulating that the goods referred to shall be sold by net weight, section 18 provides that, where the goods are already made up in packages in 'a shop, tho net weight or measure shall be legibly written or printed on the outside of the package or on a label. It further provides that when goods are delivered to the purchaser’s premises there shall be an invoice or delivery note showing the net weight or measure. There is a further provision to meet the case of goods subject to variation by reason of climatic influences. In these cases the packages must be marked, for example: “Net weight when packed.” A further important section of the Act and the regulations provides that certain goods made up in packages in shops and offered for sale by retail shall be made-up. in packages of the prescribed weights or measures. It has become a practice for several years past for manufacturers and traders, not merely in New Zealand but abroad, to make up a package slightly - short of, say, lib. For example, 14oz or 15oz, and although the packages may be marked indicating the actual weight, the public are easily misled into thinking that they are receiving a full pound. It is fair to say that most of the traders themselves do not approve of this, as one trader who wishes to act honestly by giving full measure is placed at a disadvantage compared with another trader, who sells packages slightly short of the full pound. Part 6 of the regulations, therefore, sets out the classes of goods to which this particular provision shall apply, and also the : actual weights or measures at which these goods shall be offered for sale. These articles include butter, tea, sugar, coffee, coffee and chicory, cocoa and cocoa powder, chocolate powder, treacle and golden syrup, honey (except in the comb), pepper, mustard, milk, candles (other than fancy candles), tobacco, and several other articles. This provision, however, does not come into force immediately, as the Act fixes the minimum of' six months before which the provision shall operate. 'lhe regulation sets out that in the case of butter, tea, and milk, the provision shall operate at the end of six months. In the case of honey and of paints 18 months are allowed, and in the case of all the other articles in tables “A” and “B” 12 months are given. These periods are necessary to enable traders to dispose of existing stock*, or to make arrangements with manufacturers in New Zealand and abroad. The above provisions .do not apply to goods weighed or measured in the presence of the purchasers, but only to goods already made up in packages. In regard to the sale of coal, coke, etc., the only new provision, compared with, those hitherto in existence, is that coal must be sold in quantities of lewt or 1 2-3 cwt, or multiplies thereof, excepting that this does not apply to quantities of less than lewt delivered to the purchaser on the premises of the dealer. Before these regulations were framed manufacturers, importers, and traders generally were given a full opportunity of considering the draft regulations, and of making any representations that they might wish, and .it was pleasing to find that traders generally were on the whole very reasonable and willing to see uniform and fair conditions fpr the public established. They were, in fact, anxious to see uniformity established in order to prevent any traders from competing unfairly with .other traders. The department has’ been asked to apply ■ the regulations to additional classes of goods, and the question of. doing to will no doubt be considered shortly ■when the various trading interests con- ■ oerned are given an opportunity of making representation. The classes of goods set out in the regulations have been decided upon on the basis of those provided for in the law in New South Wales and South Africa. Any person who ' desires to obtain any information on the subject of the Act or its regulations is at liberty to approach < the department’s inspectors in any Mrt of the . Dominion. . Every inspector ®s factories throughout the Dominion is ' ateo an inspector of weights and measures,

but in the 16 principal towns where the department has its permanent officers there are officers appointed with more expert knowledge of the subject.