SECOND READING. (Hansard, 28 March 1889)

§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH)
I introduced this Bill last summer. I have received very many communications with 1111 regard to the measure, and I have taken advantage of them and made such amendments in the Bill as appeared necessary. I think that in its present shape the Bill will be a very useful amendment of the law relating to weights and measures, without being open to any of the objections raised last year. Objection was taken last year by the baking trade throughout the country to the provisions relating to the sale of bread, and after full consideration I have thought it better to omit the provisions on that subject, and to leave the law as regards the sale of bread in its present state until the time comes for complete amendment. The Bill is now divided into two parts. The first part contains minor amendments of the law in the direction of giving greater power to the local authorities to secure regular and systematic inspection and to prevent fraud in the use of weights and measures. The first 15 Clauses relate to points of detail of the kind which I think will be better explained in Committee than at the present stage. The second part of the Bill relates to very important matter, and proposes to introduce generally throughout the country the same restrictions as to the sale of coal by weight as now prevail in the Metropolis. I need not dwell on the very great frauds that can be committed, and frequently are now committed, in the sale of coal, often upon the poorest of the people, under the lax state of the law which at present prevails. I shall be glad to receive any communications with regard to the Bill, and to consider them. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

§ *MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)
I do not propose to delay the progress of this measure, which I regard as an exceedingly useful one. The right hon. Gentleman has referred to the practice which obtains in London in regard to the sale of coal. I believe he wishes to make an earnest effort to prevent the barefaced and shameful frauds which are perpetrated upon the poor by the so called coal dealers of London; and all I desire from him is an assurance that he will seriously consider 1112 any Amendments made in Committee in that direction.

§ MR. FIRTH (Dundee)
I hope this Bill may be read a second time, but I am sorry it does not go much further than it does in the direction suggested by the hon. Member for Haggerston (Mr. Cremer). One of the advantages of the Bill undoubtedly is that it causes Inspectors of Weights and Measures in future to obtain certificates of qualification, but the particular point I wish to express regret about is, that the Bill may have the effect of perpetuating still longer the extremely anomalous state of things in the country with regard to Weights and Measures, which is different from that which exists in any other country in Europe.

§ *MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)
This Bill may be considered to be what is ordinarily known as a Departmental Bill, and it is quite possible that the officers of the Department who frame them may be deficient in familiarity with the practical working of systems with which they interfere. I do not propose to do anything in the way of opposing the Second Reading of the Bill, but I desire to ask that when we come to the Committee stage, it may be considered how far Part II. of the Bill is applicable to the case of large dealings in coal. Small consumers may require to be protected by stringent regulations. I do not deny that, as to the retail trade, it may be desirable that coal should be sold by weight; but I cannot think it is necessary that people who deal in large quantities of coal should be bound by such a rule. In many cases it would be extremely inconvenient to require sale by weight, as, for instance, where it is sold by the boatload, and it is a comparatively easy matter to arrive at the weight by means of the displacement. Why should an arrangement of this kind, which is approved by both buyer and seller, be rendered illegal? I hope that in Committee my right hon. Friend will consent to allow of the continuance of systems other than that of weighing, when they are sufficiently accurate for the purpose of the trade.

§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACH
What has been said in the course of this discussion makes me entertain the view, which I was disposed to before, that it would be very much better that this Bill should be considered by a Standing Committee rather than by a Committee of the whole House. I therefore beg to move that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Trade.