§ Colonel DAYasked the Home Secretary if, in view of the fact that many prosecutions have lately taken place against small tradesmen for giving short weight to their customers, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation with a view to the compulsory use of automatic scale balances, with dials that can be easily read by the
1712Wdo I think that a system of control would be in the general interest of the public. As the hon. Member is aware, it is intended that the Food Council should maintain a constant survey over the fluctuations in price of flour and bread. It may be of interest to append the following table, which shows the price of bread in London on 1st January, 1924, and on each subsequent date on which a general change has occurred, as also on Monday of this week, together with the actual selling price of London-made straight-run flour on the same dates, and the averages during the six weeks preceding those dates for comparison:
customer, in order to avoid short weight being supplied on scales of the old variety?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI have been asked to reply. I have no evidence that it is easier to give short weight with the older types of scale than with the so-called "automatic" types, and no legislation in the sense suggested in the question is contemplated.