§ MR. J. A. M. MACDONALD (Tower Hamlets, Bow)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that frequent complaints are made of the working of the Weights and Measures Act of 1889; and whether, in particular, he is aware that complaints are made of the want of uniformity of procedure on the part of the Inspectors appointed under the Act by the local authorities of the country; and, if so, whether he proposes any amendment of the law?
§ MR. J. BRYCEYes, Sir, I am aware that a certain amount of discontent is felt at the want of uniformity of procedure in the administration of the Weights and Measures Acts, but some variation appears to me to be inseparable from the system of entrusting the administration of such measures to local authorities, and although certain inconveniences do no doubt exist which the supervision of a central authority might remove, they seem to me to be outweighed by the advantages of that local discretion and control which Parliament has more than once approved.