Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra23241891roya).pdf/209

 protection of the community generally against fire, both with regard to the construction of buildings, the storing of gunpowder and combustibles, the manufacture of arrack, &c., &c., the power of infringing on a neighbour's property after a fire has broken out either for the purpose of access to the means of extinguishing it or to prevent its spreading to a greater distance.

Boatmen and parties offering themselves publicly for hire may also be subjected to regulation with the view of facilitating the attainment of redress when they are guilty of fraud and negligence.

Weights and measures of the acknowledged standard should be accessible to all, and those used in purchases and sales ought to be in strict conformity with such standards. Certain Magisterial Officers, therefore, should be employed to examine those used by persons who openly keep goods exposed for sale. When found defective the person in whose behoof they are used should be liable to fine proportioned to his supposed means and the apparent degree of fraud resorted to.

Fraud with respect to the quality of articles is a crime more readily detected, and may be left to private prosecution. In giving redress to the individual, punishment ought to be annexed in proportion as the fraud is of an injurious nature.

As a great check to fraud and falsehood, a general Registry Office for all written agreements or engagements which are liable to be made the ground of dispute before a Court of Justice, should be opened for the public. Regulation should be made for the authenticity of the document in the first instance, and either party or any party interested should be entitled to a copy, paying for the same a moderate fcc as a compensation for the trouble given to the Registrar and his Establishment, Precaution must of course be taken against the falsification or abstraction of such documents from the Registrar's Office. All deeds which may be so registered should have an avowed preference over one that is not so registered, unless the holder of the latter can shew a clear, distinct and satisfactory cause why he has not been able to have his deed registered and the onus of establishing this ought decidedly to rest on him.