The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-21
AUSTRALIANS COMMERCE.
Description Compulsory on Dietary
Articles Issued BY Consul
John p. BRAY.


Consul-General John P. Bray. Of Mel
bourne. furnishes the following
synopsis of the commerce act passed
by the parliament Of Australia, which
will become effective June 8:
Under this act 1t is compulsory To
attach trade description to certain
articles on importation or expectation.
the articles being articles used for
rood or drink by man or used in the
manufacture or preparation of articles
used for food or drink by man; medi-
cines and medicinal preparations:
manures; jewelry, and seeds and
plants
Compulsory description is not re-
quired in regard to any other classes
OF goods than those mentioned above:
put II any description is applied to any
goods the law requires that it shall
De correct one. The minister of
trade and customs. who has charge of
the administration of the act. is now
engaged In drafting the regulations in
regard to the compulsory description
OF goods, and has indicated that GER
tain principles will be considered in
framing these regulations and which
may be summarized as follows:
Articles of food or drink-Such a
description shall be affixed to these
as will accurately and completely
describe the exact nature of their COM
position. the source of origin, and
method of manufacture. Thus the
term whisky" shall only be applied
to whiskey made from pure malt ONLY
and brandy" to be pure crane spirit.
other spirituous liquors must have a
description showing of what they real
ly consist and giving the exact nature
of their ingredients.
Medicines and medical preparations
These shall bear description
showing their exact nature and con-
tents. Any preparation containing
opium, or any ingredient having a
similar effect to opium on the human
constitution. must be so described.
Manures-The precise chemical in
gradients of these and proportion of
each must be accurately given.
Apparel, including boots and shoes
A description shall be given showing
OF what ingredients the article is made
and the proportions of material used.
Jewelry-All jewelry, which Is taken
to include imitation jewelry, or articles
to be worn for ornament as jewelry.
must have an indication upon it show
ing the exact proportion of precious
metal used in its composition. If It
does not show a British hallmark
showing its quality, there must be
stamped upon it or connected with it
such mark as may be prescribed, in
dicating what is the exact proportion
of precious metals used in its manu.
facture. Precious stones and articles
of that nature. when set or otherwise.
must be accompanied by written or
printed description of their names and
qualities.
Seeds and Plants-All packets of
seeds must have on them a label
showing what the seeds are, where
grown. and the year in which pro-
duced Plants must have horticultural
labels attached to them showing what
they are and where produced.
AS to any article which admits of
it. the description must be stamped
indelibly upon it or worked or woven
into it in legible characters, and in a
prominent place on the article, so as
to readily catch the eye. Where the
article does not admit of stamping
tables shall be used. Such labels,
when practicable. shall be printed In
legible characters and placed in
prominent position on the article.