Weights and Measures. The Weights and Measures Act, 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 49), repeals all prior Acts relating to weights and measures. Under its provisions all weights and measures used for trading purposes must be stamped with stamp of verification by an inspector appointed under the Act, and if not so stamped the person using same shall be guilty of an offence. Police officers are usually appointed inspectors under the Act; such officers when appointed should lose no time in obtaining a warrant under section 48 of the Act, authorizing them to enter shops, &c., for the purpose of examining weights, scales, &c. Inspectors are usually required to go round the district for which they are appointed once at least in every twelve months to examine and adjust weights, &c., having previously given notice by handbill or other means of the day and hour they intend to visit any town or village for examination and adjustment of weights and measures. The inspector should subsequently during the year visit at uncertain periods the towns and villages in his district as he considers occasion requires, and under the authority of his warrant enter shops, warehouses, &c., and inspect all scales, weights and measures, &c., kept there for trading purposes, noticing whether they are correct, and bear stamp of verification (b). The inspector is usually responsible for the safe custody of the local standards of weights and measures, which should be carefully conveyed on all occasions when they are taken through the district. (6) An inspector stamping weights and measures of a person residing out of his district is liable to a fine of 201. for every weight, &c. (section 23 of Act). A new standard-a multiple of a bushel, viz., a four-bushel measure-has been legalized since the passing of the Act. A weight (provided it is a copy of a Board of Trade standard) can only be considered an illegal weight when it is found to be false or unjust, or when not stamped with the inspector's stamp of verification; and it is to be noticed that an old stamp of verification must be recognized, although the mark may have become almost obliterated by use (Starr v. Stringer, 7 L. R. C. P. 383; 26 L. T. 735). Section 28 of Act requires that all weights should have the denomination marked thereon in legible figures and letters. These should be cast, or cut, or engraved on the weight (see definition "Stamping," section 70 of Act), and not inserted on plugs or plates. The denomination should also be legibly marked on all measures of capacity. The Act does not, however, require that it should be marked upon measures of length. See 45 J. P. p. 150. Disposal of forfeited weights.-By section 57 of Act all weights, measures, scales, balances, and steel-yards forfeited under this Act shall be broken up, and the materials thereof may be sold or otherwise disposed of as a court of summary jurisdiction direct. Possession, &c.-Weights and measures found on premises are held to be there for the purposes of trade till the contrary is proved and in the possession of the owner of such premises. As to Reverification of local standards by Board of Trade, see section 41. An analysis of the principal sections of the Act is appended : 41 & 42 VICT. c. 49. Uniformity. The same weights and measures shall be used throughout the United Kingdom (section 3). Standards. Sections 4 to 7 describe the imperial standards, also the "Parliamentary copies" of same, and the powers of the Board of Trade to restore the standards if lost or defaced. Measure of length.-For definition of measures of length, e.g., yard, foot, inch, rod, chain, pole or perch, furlong, mile, rood, acre, see sections 10, 11, and 12. Measures of weight and capacity.-Sections 13, 14, and 15 define the imperial pound, ounce, dram, grain, stone, hundredweight, ton, also the gallon, quart, pint, peck, bushel, quarter, and chaldron. The shape of theasures of capacity is described in section 16. Trade. All sales by weight or measure must be made according to one of the imperial weights or measures ascertained by this Act, or to some multiple or part thereof. Local customary or heaped measures are not lawful. Penalty, 40s. for sale by such. Avoirdupois weight.-All sold by avoirdupois weight. that articles sold by weight shall be Penalty not exceeding 51., except (1.) Gold and silver and articles made thereof, gold and silver thread, lace, or fringe, platinum and other precious metals, diamonds, and precious stones may be sold by the ounce troy, or by decimal parts of it. (2.) Drugs, when sold by retail, may be sold by apothecaries weight. "Ounce troy" is defined in section 14 toconsist of 480 grains, and the Board of Trade standards of apothecaries weights and measures are set forth in an annexed schedule which appeared in the London Gazette of 15th August, 1879. Ꮓ Sale of article in vessel not represented as being an imperial or local measure.-Nothing in this Act shall prevent the sale, or subject a person to a fine for the sale of an article in any vessel which is not represented as containing any amount of imperial measure, nor subject a person to a fine under this Act for the possession of a vessel where it is shown that such vessel is not used nor intended for use as a measure (section 22). Sale of coals, slack, culm, and cannel of every description must be by weight, and not by measure. Persons selling any of these by measure and not by weight will be liable to a fine not exceeding 40s. for each sale (section 64 and schedule 6, second part). Printing returns, price lists, price current, &c.-Any person who prints or makes any return, price list, price current, or any journal in which the denomination of weights and measures quoted denotes a greater or less weight or measure than is denoted by the same denomination of the imperial weights and measures, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 10s. for every copy of such. Possession of unauthorized weights or measures.—Any person using, or having in his possession for use for trade, any weight or measure not being of the same denomination as some Board of Trade standard. Penalty, fine not exceeding 51., or for a second offence 10l., and the weight or measure will be liable to be forfeited. Unjust weights and measures.-Every person using, or having in his possession for trade purposes, any weight, measure, scale, balance, steelyard, or weighing machine which is false or unjust, is liable to a fine not exceeding 5l., and on a second offence 10l., and any contract, bargain, sale, or dealing made by the same will be void, and the weight, measure, balance, or steelyard will be liable to be forfeited. Weighing machines, it is to be noted, are not liable to be forfeited. Fraudulent use of weights, measures, &c.—Where any fraud is wilfully committed in the using of any weight, measure, scale, &c., the person committing such fraud, and every person party to the fraud, is liable to a fine not exceeding 5l., and for a second offence 10l., and the weight, &c., to be forfeited (section 26). Sale of false weights, &c.-Any person wilfully making or selling a false weight, measure, scale, balance, steelyard, or weighing machine-penalty not exceeding 10l., and for a second offence 50l. (section 27). STAMPING AND VERIFICATION. Denomination.-Every weight, except where the small size of the weight renders it impracticable, shall have the denomination stamped on the top or side in legible figures and letters, and every measure of capacity on the outside. A weight or measure not in conformity with this section, i.e. which is not so stamped with its denomination, shall not be stamped with the stamp of verification defined in section 29 (section 28). Verification.-All weights and measures used for trade must be verified and stamped by an inspector with a stamp of verification under this Act. Every person who uses, or has in his possession for use for trade, any measure or weight not stamped as required by this section, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 5l., or for a second offence 10l., and the weight or measure shall be liable to be forfeited, and the bargain, sale, &c., shall be void (section 29). "Cased" weights.-Weights made of lead or pewter, or any mixture thereof, are not to be stamped or used for trade unless wholly and substantially cased with brass, copper, or iron, and stamped or marked "cased;" but nothing in this |