“NO CATCHES”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19623, 18 October 1933, Page 6

“NO CATCHES”

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 17. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, explaining the Weights and Measures Amendment Bill in the House ot Representatives to-day said that it gave effect to certain resolutions adopted at die last Imperial Conference in regard to weights and measures. The provisions of the Bill would be carried out in conjunction with the British Board ot Trade. There was another clause ‘n the Bill which applied only to the Dominion. This gave power to the Labour Department to prosecute persons who kept underweight articles for sale. Under the present legislation, it was necessary for an article to have been sold before proceedings could be Mr R. McKeen (Lab , Wellington South), will the clause apply to goods sold in packets, tins or bottles? Mr Hamilton it applies only to goods represented to be a certain weight. Mr McKeen: Some tins of goods which are supposed to contain a pound contain only 12 ounces. Mr Hamilton: If they are sold as pound tins they will have to contain a pound. Mr A. S. Richards (Lab , Roskill) and Mr McKeen urged that provision should be made for all goods sold in packets etc., to be stami>ed in such a way that the public would not be deceived as to amount they were purchasing. Mr J. A. Lee (Lab, Grey Lynn) asked for more information concerning the resolutions adopted by the Imperial Conference. The Minister said that the resolutlons merely dealt with the standard pound weight and the standard yard length. There were no "catches'' in the Bill. The object was to keep our standard pound and yard in accordance with the corresponding British standards. Pressed for further details, the Minister said that provision was made fcr a comparison between the New Zealand and British standards at regunr intervals. The New Zealand yardstick and standard pound weight would have to be sent home every five years to make sure that there was n? variation. Mr F. Langstone (Lab.. Waimarino): Will there be a delegation accompanying them? (Laughter.)