80. Duties of the distillers' or wholesale suppliers' agents.
- The following shall be the duties of the distillers' or the wholesale licensees' agents attached to the bonded spirit warehouses-(1)The agents should have a thorough knowledge of warehouse work and should keep regular and correct accounts of stock, receipt, reduction, blending, issue, and wastage of spirit independently.(2)They should arrange to take delivery of consignments of spirit immediately on their arrival at the railway station or at any other place of receipt, as necessary, and to transport the same to the warehouses without delay.(3)They should make necessary arrangements for the examination and storage by the officer-in-charge of the spirit received in the consignments and see that the spirit is racked into the store vats without delay.(4)They should see that the plants, e.g., all receptacles, pumps and weighing machines are kept perfectly clean and in proper working order and in case of any defect in these plants, which cannot be repaired or remedied locally, they should promptly report the matter to the licensee, keeping a copy of the letter in their file to show that they have taken due action.(5)They should reduce and bland spirit under the supervision of the officer-in-charge and see that proper quantities of water and spirit are added and the mixture thoroughly stirred before gauging and proving and that accurate strengths of spirit are noted in the concerned register.(6)If there is any difference of opinion in the matter mentioned in Clause (5) between the officer-in-charge and an agent, the opinion of the former shall prevail and accounts written accordingly but the agent should note in the remarks column of his register what he considered to be the correct strength.(7)Sample of the spirit, the strength of which is under question shall be kept in two sealed bottles and intimation of such difference of opinion given at once to the Superintendent who will depute the Inspector or himself visit the warehouse as early as possible and make inquiries for suitable action in the matter and against the person at fault.(8)If in addition to Government locks the agents keep their own locks on the warehouse they should punctually attend and open the warehouse, during working hours or whenever required by the officer-in-charge and remain present so long as the warehouse is open.(9)They should arrange to keep the warehouse and their surroundings neat and tidy at all times.(10)They should see that quantities of spirit for which passes have been issued by the officer-in-charge are accurately measured out to the vendors and the strengths are, as nearly as possible, equal to those prescribed by the Board, maximum variation of actual issue strength being 0-3 degree proof where hydrometer is marked in one-tenth of a degree, or 0-4 degree where hydrometer is marked in one-fifth of a degree.(11)They are not to write out or to make any entries in the registers maintained by the officer-in-charge.(12)The agents should make suitable arrangement for coolies required at the warehouse for purpose of receipt, storing, reduction, blending and issue of liquor to the retail vendors.(13)The agents should, on each occasion examine all pipe connections before leaving the warehouse, and again when the warehouse is opened during the working hours, with a view to satisfy themselves that the joints and flanges are in tact.(14)They should under no circumstances, leave the warehouse without closing the taps opened earlier to supply water for purpose of reduction.
