THE BOARD OF TRADE AND ACCURACY OF PETROL PUMPS.
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REGARDING the suggestion of the Board of the
for the voluntary testing of petrol pumps, the Durham County Inspector says the suggestion is so novel and so important. when considered in connection with such severe Acts as the Weights and Measures .Acts that no doubt the County Council will give the matter due consideration before either accepting or rejecting it.
Briefly, the facts, according to the circular, are: (1) That such measuring instruments are not required by On Weights and Measures Acts to be stamped, and the Government has not the time to legislate with reference thereto; (2) that whilst the stamping of such measuring instruments is not compulsory on owners, there. is no prohibition laid upon an inspector which would prevent him from stamping them; (3) that it is doubtful whether the inspector has the right to inspect them afterwards, and (4) that
it is doubtful whether an inspector could successfully proectite if the instrument were found inaecurate after stamping.
The Durham inspector points out that the stamp of an ittspector of weights and measures upon a weight measure, weighiug or measuring instrument, is invariably—and Very properly—accepted by •the public, not only as the " hallmark " of accuracy, but as an indication that the same is continually liable to his inspection... To order the use of that stamp on au instrument admittedly liable to excessive variation, and respecting which he ha ,s no subsequent power of inspection Or right, to prosecute, is a procedure which demands careful eonsideration. A casual observer, says the inspector, Would certainly suggest that the Board • of Trade, which evidently recognizes the importance of this matter, would be powerful enough to promote and carry through legislation rather than suggest such an innovation to local authorities, and threw the 'onus of deal
ing with it on them. The matter is farther complicated by a brass Strip attached to many of these pumps •bearing the following -inscription : " The niakers have taken every, precaution to ensure that this measuring instrument gives, accurate measure and give their own guarantee, but in order to comply with the Weights and Measures Act; they do pot put it forward. as a, legal
measure." •
In connection with the Board of Trade circular the general purposes committee of the East.. Riding County Council reports that it is not desirable to adopt a solentaree system of verification of tuKtsuring instruments, and that the Board of Trade sheuld be urged to bring all measuring instruments used for trade purposes under official control by the ,introduction of. a Bill, .