§ MR. ARCHIBALD GROVEI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, in some districts, inspectors of weights and measures are in the habit of delegating their duties to irresponsible assistants, to the injury of the trading community; and whether such practice is legal; and, if not, can it be stopped?
§ MR. BRYCEI have received no information to the effect suggested in the question of my hon. Friend. If he will furnish me with full particulars of the cases which are in his mind, I will refer them for the observations of the local authority who appoint and control the Inspectors of Weights and Measures in their district. I can find nothing in the Act to authorise an Inspector to delegate his duties.
§ MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)said, that, arising out of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, he wished to know whether, in the event of the local authority conniving at the subletting of inspectorships, the right hon. Gentleman will take steps to prevent that being carried on.
§ MR. BRYCEThe Inspectors of Weights and Measures have power to appoint assistants, but they cannot delegate their functions. If such an impropriety as my hon. Friend suggests is found to have occurred, I am afraid there is no power on the part of the Board of Trade to deal with the case. The only remedy will be by fresh legislation.
§ MR. GROVEasked whether, in the event of an Inspector accosting a baker in the streets and demanding an inspection of his weights, whether that would be justifiable?
§ MR. BRYCEThat would not be a matter within my knowledge or control, but it would be one within the control of the local authorities.