WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

7.26 p.m.

The Minister for Science and Technology (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

In October, 1970, the Government approved the broad policy of metrication. Since then, significant progress had been achieved. Except for certain technical departments, the public sector has completely metricated. Conversions have also taken place in industries. For example, the construction and engineering industries are substantially metric. As for the retail trade, all major supermarkets went metric from 1st July, 1974. Pre-packed goods are now available in standard metric sizes, textiles are sold by the metre and petrol dispensed by the litre. Efforts are now being made to encourage housewives to use metric units in preparation for the day of complete metrication.

In addition to our efforts at metrication, the Government has found it increasingly necessary to regulate weighing and measuring instruments used in trade. As a further measure of consumer protection, it has also been found necessary to regulate the manner in which certain goods, especially those pre-packed, are to be sold. In the light of these efforts, it is necessary to amend and re-enact the present Weights and Measures Act.

The Bill firstly defines the units of measurements permitted for trade purposes and authorises the use of metric units in place of local and imperial units of weights and measures in areas and places of trade as decided by the Minister in charge. Exceptions are made for transactions in medicinal drugs and precious metals and stones where traditional units may continue to apply.

As a measure of consumer protection, the Bill requires weighing and measuring instruments used for trade to be constructed of approved patterns, specifications, material and principles of construction to ensure their accuracy. To reduce opportunity for cheating, the Bill requires instruments used for trade to be tested by an inspector of Weights and Measures and manufacturers and repairers of weighing instruments to be licensed. Further, shortweight and misrepresentation of goods sold will be regarded as an offence.

As a further measure for consumer protection, the Bill requires some goods to be sold by a particular unit of measure, some by approved sizes and pre-packed goods to show clearly the net quantity of their contents.

Where insisted upon by customers, the Bill now provides that retailers should sell in metric units.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill-[Dr Lee Chiaw Meng].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.