§ MR. M. H. SHAW-STEWART (Renfrew, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in view of the fact, acknowledged in the House by his predecessor on 19th February 1895, that some auctioneers are using in their cattle auction marts dial-weighing machines upon which the graduations are not of sufficient width to indicate the limits of sensitiveness required in the application of the test for sensitiveness under the Model Regulations, 1890, he is prepared, for the guidance of inspectors of weights and measures and in order to introduce uniformity of practice amongst them, and to remove existing doubts as to the propriety of stamping machines of the above description, to state the minimum extent of movement of the dial finger which must take place when the tests for sensitiveness are applied?
§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he can state, for the guidance and uniformity of action of inspectors of weights and measures, when they apply the test for sensitiveness, as prescribed by Rule No. 55 of the Model Regulations, what extent of movement of 1471 the vibrating principle steelyard tongue is necessary to comply with the Regulations?
§ MR. RITCHIEI will answer the Questions of the hon. Members for East Renfrew and Mid Lanark together. I am advised that a general rule to indicate either the minimum extent of movement of the dial finger or of the steelyard tongue is impracticable as regards existing machines, because it must vary with the size of the machine, and I should like to point out to the hon. Members that the local authorities with whom the matter really rests have not in any case applied to the Board of Trade for a modification of the Model Regulation referred to in the Questions.