DECIMAL COINAGE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 8

DECIMAL COINAGE

U.K. Decision Soon

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. Nov. 14. i Britain’s Chancellor of toe Exchequer (Mr Lloyd! said today he hoped to announce before the end of the year the Government’s decision on whether Britain should switch to decimal coinage. He told the House of Commons he had had discussions with the Finance Ministers of Australia and New Zealand when he met them in Accra, Ghana, earlier this year. Mr Edward Du Cann (Conservative! said the matter was urgent because of Britain’s possible entry into toe European Common Market. which had a decimal system. He asked what consultations the Government had had with toe Commonwealth because it was very much a Commonwealth matter. As it had been under consideration by successive governments since 1799, could Mr Lloyd say definitely that the decision would come before long?

Mr Lloyd said' in view of the length of time toe matter had been considered perhaps Mr Du Cann would not grudge him another month or two. As for the Commonwealth consultation, he said: “I did discuss the matter with Finance Ministers of Australia and New Zealand when I met them in Accra this year.” Asked by a Labour member if the adoption of a decimal coinage would be a condition of entry into the European Common Market. Mr Lloyd said he did not think any such condition had ever been stated.