Defects In Conversion

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 1

Defects In Conversion

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 27. “Key-top” conversion of cash registers advocated by some retailers and others would extend the area of overnight conversion but was far from universally acceptable, the chairman of the Decimal Currency Board (Mr S. L. Moses) said today. The board was anxious to speed up the change to deci-

mal currency, but not by adopting methods which were unacceptable to a substantial cumber of retailers, Mr Moses said.

“Key-top” conversion was a temporary conversion technique and had a number of quite serious defects, said Mr Moses. But, it could be used to advantage in small shops, where the owner or manager could maintain a close personal check on cash handling. The main defects in the technique were that the price indication and the safeguard provided by it were lost; cash dockets were still printed in £ s. d. and therefore did not agree with the cash paid; cash registers with totalling faci-

lities became completely inaccurate; and not all types of cash registers could be converted by the method. “I feel at this tame I should restate the board’s policy in relation to this whole subject,” said Mr Moses. “The board is willing to assist those shopkeepers who wish to use this method in spite of its serious weaknesses. In fact a pamphlet is available at the board’s office setting out how to go about applying this method of conversion and it can be obtained on application.” But the board was not willing to force on these people key-top conversion with all its weaknesses, Mr Moses said.