§ MR. ALDERMAN LUSKsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether any complaints have reached him relating to the present mode of inspecting Weights and Measures, and awarding half the penalties and all the costs to parties laying information, and otherwise enforcing the law; and whether magistrates before whom persons are charged with having in their possession "light or otherwise unjust" weights and measures are bound to convict such persons in cases where it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the such magistrates that no fraud or injustice was intended?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDYsaid, that upon inquiry he found that no complaints had been made on the subject of the first part of the question. Upon the latter point, the law was that the magistrates were bound to convict persons having unjust weights and measures in their possession, and that it was not necessary there should be evidence that these weights and measures were wilfully or fraudulently in their possession. There was an appeal to the Quarter Sessions, who were able to 774 mitigate the penalty to one half if they thought proper.
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would, in accordance with the promise of his predecessor in office, introduce a measure upon the subject next Session.
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDYThe subjustice consideration. A Commission of weights and Measures is now sitting, and the probability is that I shall introduce a measure early next Session.