H—ll

when a worker leaves New Zealand or dies ; applied subsection (2) of section 7 of the principal Act to workers employed as shipwrights or carpenters in the preparation of ships for cargo or in the loading or unloading of cargo, thus enabling the employers and workers to work out and submit for approval to the Minister a satisfactory scheme to meet their special conditions, as in the case of waterside workers and tally clerks ; and made it an offence against the Act to use for any purpose other than for purposes of the Annual Holidays Act any uncancelled stamp that has at any time been affixed to a holiday card. The last-mentioned amendment was asked for by the Post and Telegraph Department, as cases had been found where it was suspected that stamps had been removed from the annual holidays card and cashed with the Post Office at a discount of 5 per cent., thus avoiding payment of the national security and social security charges (now 10 per cent.). WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT The regulations under the Act provide for the reverification of weights and weighing and measuring instruments in use for trade purposes. The articles verified or reverified during the year are summarized hereunder : Submitted. Incorrect. Weights .. .. '.. .. .. 27,180 5,298 Measures.. .. .. .. .. 3,080 98 Weighing-instruments .. .. ..17.706 2,077 Measuring-instruments .. .. .. 2,216 405 There were also submitted for verification 2,150,160 bottles (milk, cream, or oil), 26,760 being rejected. In addition to the reverification work referred to, each shop inspection included an examination to ascertain that requirements as to reverification had been satisfied, and the Department has also carried out surprise tests of appliances on the owners' premises. Inspections were also made covering the regulations requirements as to net weight and standard weight of packages, and the sale of firewood, coke, and coal, also the provisions relating to the weight of bread, including those contained in the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908. Complaints were received respecting 72 alleged breaches of the Act. As a result of the investigation of these and of the check inspections referred to above, 14 prosecutions were instituted, fines amounting to £36. Thirteen appliances presenting novel features were dealt with during the year. Of this number, 2 were approved, 9 are under review, and 2 were rejected as unsuitable for use for trade. In 1 case modification of the original design of the pattern submitted was found necessary. Details are : Approved — A counter platform scale of 200 lb. capacity. A self-indicating counter scale of 20 lb. capacity. Under review— A self-indicating dial platform scale of 1,500 lb. capacity. A self-indicating dial overhead-track meat-weigher of 1,000 lb. capacity. A self-indicating milk-tank weigher of 3,500 lb. capacity. An automatic packing and weighing machine of 10 lb. capacity. A dual-purpose liquid-flow meter for large bulk and pre-determined automatic deliveries. A length-measuring instrument for the measurement of bolts of various woollen materials. A platform-type cheese-weighing machine of 2001b. capacity for use in dairy factories. A self-indicating counter machine of 2 lb. capacity. A volumetric filling and weighing machine of 2 lb. capacity. Kejected— A wall-beam salt-weighing steelyard machine of 50 lb. capacity. A self-indicating crane weighing-machine of 5 tons capacity.

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