To the Editor of the "Norta-Cxrna Day News."
S1r,—Much has been written in the '"North-China Daily News' about cotton in China but there is also need for much reform in the control of weights and measures in this country.
According to the latest papers from Home the scandal of short measure given by the nice looking pumps on the kerbstones has ko come almost a national question.
Here, in the large cities of Ohina I venture to state that the inaccuracy of the measure given the Petrol pumps is also pronounced; how much more ¢o in view of the fact that we are liable to receive either the American or the Imperial gallon?
Should the-American unit be the measure given, then the shame of it would really be disgraceful, because the same price is certainly charged for both.
Another aspect is the fact that no control is made over a dealer who cares to be sufficiently dishonest as to mix paraffin with petrol in his underground tank.
In the Home papers it has been proved after investigation that in nearly 80 per cent. of the machines referred to, short measure was given; and in many instances the error was as high as one pint. per gallon.
Tt is not the. writer's idea to blame the big companies who give the pumps to the dealers—nor does he desire to insinuate that all dealers are so dishonest as to mix their gasoline or deliberately give short measure, but he does lame the system which permits such There is absolutely no doubt that. the marketing companies and all reliable dealers would welcome a periodical test by a competent Municipal Inspector.
To suggest a reversion to the old petrol cans would be absurd because the pumps are a great convenience to all motorists; but the fact that they are such a convenience is no reason why: they should escape Munic'pal control in the manner suggested.
I am, ete..
Tsinanfu, Dec. 5, 1923.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.