§ MR. P. STANHOPE (Wednesbury)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will consider the possibility of introducing, in the Committee stage of the Coal Mines, &c. Regulation Bill, some addition to the clause dealing with, the Weights and Measures Act of 1878, in order to provide against the notorious contravention of the intention of that Act, in the practice of selling coal in canal boats by fictitious measurement, which exclusively prevails in the mining districts of South Staffordshire?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I think it is outside the scope of the Coal Mines, &c. Regulation Bill to legislate for sales of coal, with which the Bill has nothing to do. I am not aware that the Weights and Measures Act of 1878 does not satisfactorily deal with the subject of sales.