SYDNEY'S JEWELLERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 316, 30 May 1913, Page 8

SYDNEY'S JEWELLERY.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE. j WHAT AN ASSAY REVEALED. Sydney, May 14. Some remarkable statements concerning the quality of jewellery sold in Syd-'"' ney'were made by members of a depution to the Treasurer, Mr. Cann. The question discussed was that of the Government stamping of jewellery,; and the. deputation was from the Fed- i erated Jewellers, Watchmakers, and AI-.j lied Trades Union of Australia. Mr. Kavanagh, M.L.C., in introducing the deputation, said that the statement; had been made several times that jewel- i lery had been sold in Sydney by reputable Arms and others as being of a cer-: tain quality, but when examined it was found td be somewhat inferior. Some jewellery sold as 15 carats had been proved to be 9 carats. The public should, be ; protected from 'such a thing. The president of the union, Mr. > Shearer, declared that they did not wish the Government to provide a hall-mark.; All they asked was that there should be a Government stamp alongside that of the manufacturers' mark, which would give some guarantee to the public. "Where is the guarantee?" asked Mr. Gann.

Mr. Shearer said that assays would have to be made from time to time, and anybody guilty of an offence would be prosecuted. He produced several articles' of jewellery which were stamped as 9 and 15 carats, but which were really filled with lead to make them heavy, or else wholly bras 3. Strangely enough, the' manufacturer who gave the best quality gold paid the highest wages. Only last week a workman reported to the union that he and his fellow-employees were compelled to make "gold" chains the inside of which consisted of copper wire. That was also done with bangles, which were sold as being 15 carats. That sort of thing was carried out to a wide extent. '

:\jr. R. W. Dickie, secretary of the union, said that he had sent out a man to purchase three articles of jewellery—a ring, a pendant, and a brooch. He had them assayed, and the "pearl pendant and brooch," stamped 15 carats, and sold as such, was proved to be 8.5 carats—seven carats under quality. The "15 carats" band ring was assayed at 9.3 carats. The "gold brooch, !) carats," was 7.1 carats. A similar thing was going on in many other places, and he had not singled out any establishment in making the purchase. In reply, Mr. Cann said that tlie question was nn old one. He took it that the union wished to protect the genuine manufacturer and the public alike. He had seen articles in England stamped with the Somerset House mark, but which were fraudulent. The Government had not considered the matter as an urgent one, and if there had been time it would have been taken up. Personally, lie could not see any chance of the Government giving protection unless there were regular tests. He would not .take the responsibility of saying that he would introduce the Bill, but he would mention it to the Cabinet. Even if there was a hall-marking department he was convinced that there would be fraud.