Drive To Teach Metric System To Cubans

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 20

Drive To Teach Metric System To Cubans

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter)

HAVANA. An all-out drive to teach Cuban housewives the advantages of the metric system is being launched by Dr. Fidel Castro’s regime, using television, the daily press, periodicals and even the display windows of department stores. Particular stress is put upon the fact that the metre is longer than a yard, the kilogramme heavier than two pounds, the litre more than a pint. Under a law decreed on December 31. it is intended that within three years the metric measures shall have completely supplanted the Anglo-American system. The introduction of the decimal system is frankly intended to bring Cuba into line with the Communist countries. Since the United States applied its trade embargo last October, Cuba makes the bulk of its purchases from countries of the Communist bloc and is at present struggling to find Czech or Soviet spare parts, measured in centimetres, for American-made vehicles and machihes whose parts are quoted in inches. The first practical step taken by the Cuban Government has been to order a national census of all wieghing scales used in industry, commerce and domestic trade. This will enable the Ministry of Internal Trade to give the necessary orders for new scales, calibrated in grammes and kilogrammes.

to be manufactured by a factory due to go into operation shortly near Havana. Even travelling salesmen and carters who use scales will have to submit a census form, although they have been guaranteed a free issue of the new scales they will need. The pharmaceutical industry has been given 180 days to switch completely to the metric system, and the Ministry of Transport has already begun to classify, its vehicles by measuring distance between front and rear axles in centimetres instead of inches. Curiously enough, Cuba almost adopted the metric decimal system once before, under a Spanish decree in 1882. But by a law of 1899. under the Cuban-United States Treaty following the War of Independence from Spain, Cuba was brought into line with the system used by the Americans. Some Cubans are now commenting wryly that the United States system was originally adopted as an act of defiance against the Spaniards. Licensing Review Discussed (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 26. Representatives of the Asso- ■ ciation of Chartered Clubs . today discussed with the ; Minister of Justice (Mr , Hanan) the impending re- . view of licensing legislation.