§ MR. AUGUSTINE BIRRELL (Fife, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Committee of Weights and Measures of the County Council of Fife have declared against the continued use of dial weighbridges in auction marts, on account of their uncertainty when indicating the weight of live stock, and have recommended that if dial machines are to be continued at all for determining the weight of cattle, the space on the graduated dial plate should not be less than half an inch for each seven pound division; and whether he has sanctioned this latter suggestion; 864 and, if so, whether he will issue a Memorandum to local authorities on the subject?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyNo, Sir; I was not aware that the Committee referred to had expressed any opinion on the subject of weighing machines generally. In the suggestions we have issued for the guidance of market authorities and auctioneers, in regard to such machines, we have expressed the opinion that the figures should be as large and the graduations as distinct as circumstances permit, and the legal denominations of weight should alone be indicated. I do not think it would be desirable or practicable to go beyond this at the present time.