VPRS 9524 General Correspondence Files, Multiple Number System [Weights and Measures Branch]

Full description

This series comprises subject correspondence files containing inward and copies of outward correspondence created by the Weights and Measures Branch of the Chief Secretarys Department (VA 475) from 1950 to 1965 and the Local Government Department (VA 601) from 1965 to 1975. The contents of the series derive from the functional responsibility of the agencies administering the Weights and Measures Acts (refer to Weights and Measures Act, 1939 (No.4712).

This series documents the central administration of the weights and measures function which included:

Maintaining and preserving the primary standards of weights and measures for the State of Victoria: The primary standards used as a reference for testing of weighing and measuring instruments, were based either on the Imperial system of weights and measures, which used yards, pounds and gallons as the primary standard, or the Metric system which used metres, and kilograms as the primary standard. The Metric system was adopted in the 1960s

;Verification and re-verification of copies of the primary standards: The testing and verification of copies of the primary standards, was necessary as secondary departmental and local standards were used by inspectors to compare weights and measures and weighing and measuring instruments

;Instruction and certification of weights and measures inspectors and supervision of local administration (local administration of the act was conducted by municipalities or unions of municipalities): The local authorities were empowered to appoint inspectors to assist in the verification, inspection and stamping of weighing and measuring instruments. Their other duty was to enforce breaches of the Act

;Inspection, testing and approval of pattern of weighing and measuring instruments prescribed to be inspected by the central administration

;Prosecution of offences under the legislation was carried out from the central jurisdiction (as supervised by the Superintendent). After the proclamation of the Weights and Measures Act, 1967 (No. 7531), the local authorities, or unions were required to enforce the Act and regulations which included the imposing of fines for the breaches of the Act. Local inspectors were also charged with collecting fees for verification and re-verification of weights and measures standards and equipment.