The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Lord EUSTACE CECIL moved that the House was of
opinion that the present state of the law as
regarded the use of false weights and measures,
and the prevention and punishment of adulterations of
food, drink, and drugs, was most unsatisfactory, and de-
manded the early attention of her Majesty's Government.
The noble Lord strongly urged the necessity of an altera-
tion in the law. The arguments which he had used on a
former occasion, when he introduced the subject, had
remained uncontradicted, and time, he ventured to say,
had rather increased than diminished their force.
He alluded to the increased importation of a poisonous
drug which was used almost exclusively in the adultera-
tion of beer and porter. This great fraud was wholly
felt by the poor, and the Government ought to protect
them. Speaking of adulteration which was called harm-
less, he said such adulteration, like false weights and mea-
sures, was, in his opinion, neither more nor less than
pocket-picking, and the punishment which was awarded
in the case should be awarded in the other. During the
last few months a great deal had been said about the
adulteration of tea, and he read an extract from a daily
newspaper as sh owing the prevalence of the system. The
noble lord called attention to the punishment for-
merly inflicted upon butchers and bakers, and re-
marked that although our ancestors were severe in
such matters they were wise. He did not think
it was worthy of the strongest Government since the
days of Sir Robert Peel to shirk the question. He said
it was not only a national question, but it was one which
specially affected the labouring classes. The rich, if they
happened to be poisoned or defrauded, had a remedy ; they
had the means and the opportunity of going elsewhere
for their food and drink, but the poor could not. He did
not wish, nor could he expect, that the Government could
bring in a bill this session, but he hoped they would pro-
mise to deal with it.

Mr. T. HUGHES had great pleasure in seconding the
motion, and thought that the House owed the noble lord
a debt of gratitude for the perseverance he had displayed
in the matter. With regard to the subject of false weights
and measures he made the unpleasant discovery the first
year he had a seat in that House that the constituency he
represented, according to the Board of Trade re-
turns, stood worse in this respect than any other
part of London. On representing the case to his
constituents they replied that it was true the state of
things was very bad, but they were no worse than in
other parts of London. The hon. member went on to
show that the state of the law was eminently unsatisfac-
tory, and called attention to the anomalous way in which
the statutes were worked in the north of London. There the
inspection was a perfect 'farce. In the south of London the
inspection of weights and measures was performed by two
competent men, chosen by the magistrates, and the cases
of fraud were five times as many as in the north. It
would not be asking too much of of the Government to
propose a short measure placing the whole system of in-
spection under the magistrates, who should appoint in-
spectors and see that the inspection was carried out. He
believed that if the Government published in the Gazette
the names of all shopkeepers who had deliberately de-
frauded their customers it would have a very salutary
effect. He believed too that the Home Secretary had the
power of putting up boards in different parishes, which
they might designate the " rogues' board," and of
publishing the names of offenders thereon. He believed
all parties in the House would support any Minister who
would take the matter in hand.
Mr. BRUCE said that the commissioners had, although
their report was not yet published, made certain recom-
mendations for the amendment of the law, which he
admitted was defective. At the same time, he thought
that if the Government were to propose to cover the
country with inspectors to inquire into every shop
throughout the -country they would be making a demand
which would somewhat try the attachment of the House
to the Government. He did not, however, defend adul-
teration. In his opinion it was a grave offence, and could
neither morally nor legally be separated from the fami-
liar crime of obtaining goods under false pretences. He
would undertake to give the subject the best considera-
tion he could.
Mr. S. CAVE supported the motion, and in the course
of his observations said that a public prosecutor should
be appointed to deal with cases of adulteration, &c. The
real remedy, however, was publicity of all cases of fraud
on the part of shopkeepers.
Mr. MUNTZ, after pointing out the varieties of weights
and measures, spoke of the prevalence of adulteration.
He said it was not a question of cheating, but of life and
death.
After some further discussion the motionwas withdrawn.