Cyprus. In Cyprus, by a law enacted on 20th May 1890 (No. XI., 1890), the standards are specified as follows: Canada. 9. STANDARDS OF CANADA. In Canada (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, British Columbia, N.W. Territory, &c.) the same units of weight and measure are adopted as in Great Britain and Ireland. The "Dominion Standards" of the yard and of the pound avoirdupois are deposited at Ottawa (and Newfoundland) under the Canadian Act 36 Vict. c. 47. and 48, as described in the First Report, dated 20th January 1874, of the Commissioner of Inland Revenue on the Inspection of Weights and Measures and Gas. These standards are similar in form to the Imperial Standards. Besides these standards the Standards Office at Ottawa is provided with "Departmental Standards," including avoirdupois standards of a decimal series as follows: and it is this series (and not the binary series, 56, 28, 14, 7 lbs., &c.) which is mainly adopted for use in trade in Carada. As the outcome of the Report of a Select Committee of the Canadian Senate, appointed on 21st March 1870, the present system of inspection and verification of weights and measures in Canada has been organised. Regulations with reference thereto being issued by the Standards Branch of the Inland Revenue. A Canadian Act, dated 19th April 1884 (47 Vict. c. 36), to amend the Weights and Measures Act of 1879, contains new provisions with reference to the examination of the weights of canned or packed goods, and to the sale of weights and measures. Further detailed regulations have been also recently issued by the Inland Revenue Department respecting the kind of balances, &c. which traders may use in Canada, such regulations being in place of those given in a Consolidated Order in Council of 1882, and in the instructions to inspectors formerly issued by the Inland Revenue Department. The metric system was rendered permissive by 34 Vict. c. 24. (Canada), 1871, which was re-enacted by the Consolidating Act of 1873, and the Act gave equivalent values of Imperial and metric weights and measures, made the system legal in contracts and dealings, and empowered the Governor-General to provide standards and to make regulations for the verification of metric weights and measures. In British Columbia the Ordinances regulating weights and measures are the same as those for Canada, chapter 104 of the Revised Statutes for Canada, 1886, the short title of the Dominion Act being Weights and Measures Act, 42 Vict. c. 16. Australia and Africa. 10. STANDARDS OF AUSTRALIA, &c. The Imperial system of weights and measures is in force in Australia and South Africa, the several Governments having verified copies of the standards deposited with the Board of Trade, and a local inspection of trade weights and measures is provided for by statutes which govern weights and measures in the Colonies. The following is a list of the Colonial Acts and Ordinances: CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.-Act No. 11 of 1858, "An Act "for regulating Weights and Measures in the "Colony of the Cape of Good Hope." NATAL. Act No. 11 of 1852, "Ordinance for establishing Imperial Weights and Measures." Section 11 of Act No. 39 of 1884 refers to weights and measures, and confers certain powers on local boards respecting weights and measures. NEW SOUTH WALES.-No. 3 of 16 Victoria, 1852 "An Act to amend the Law relating to Weights, "and Measures." NEW ZEALAND.-No. 30 of 1868, "The Weights and "Measures Act, 1868." No. 27 of 1877; section 9 of this Financial Arrangements Act refers to weights and measures. SOUTH AUSTRALIA.-No. 349 of 48 & 49 Vict. (1885), 54 Vict. No. 29 contains Regulations for the measurement of Fruit Cases. VICTORIA. Consolidating Act of 1890, "An Act to "Consolidate the Law relating to Weights and "Measures." WESTERN AUSTRALIA.—3 William IV., No. 2 of 1833, "An Act for regulation of Weights and Measures." 18 Vict. No. 18, "An Act to Revise and Amend certain parts of Ordinance No. 2 of 1833." Section 55 of 40 Vict. No. 13 refers incidentally to weights and measures, Indies. In the West Indies including Bermudas, Jamaica, West Trinidad, Windward Islands (Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Tobago, St. Lucia, &c.), Bahamas Islands, British Honduras, British Guiana, Falkland Islands, the Imperial system is also legally recognised. In Mauritius, Seychelles, Ascension, St. Helena, Gambia Settlements, Sierra Leone, and the Gold Coast the Imperial system is also legally recognised, but native weights and measures are also used, particularly in the three first-named places. So far we have endeavoured to show the origin of the standards on which our present systems of weights and measures have been based, and the relation of the standards of the United Kingdom to those adopted abroad in the great Colonies and dependencies. We may now follow the application of these standards to the practical measurements of trade and to the development of the present system of inspection of weights and measures. PART II. Present practice of the local 11. INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN USE IN TRADE. The important duty of verifiying and inspecting weights and measures in use in trade is carried out by authorities. the Local Authorities, as the County and Borough Councils, who appoint the Inspectors of Weights and Measures. The two principal Acts, which at present control the local inspection, are the Weights and Measures Acts of 1878 and 1889; besides which Acts there are the Weights and Measures Acts of 1892 and 1893, which are hereafter referred to, as well as other laws which relate to some particular use of weights and measures, as— The Sale of Bread Acts, 1836 and 1838. The Weighing of Cattle Acts, 1887 and 1891. As all public general statutes can be obtained from the Queen's Printer, or may be readily referred to in public libraries, &c., the author has given references only to the titles or dates of Acts quoted. It is evidently undesirable to give extracts, however copious, when the original laws themselves are accessible, and can be readily referred to in event of important legal proceedings arising. |