ZONING FOR CONVERSION TO DECIMALS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 12

ZONING FOR CONVERSION TO DECIMALS

A simultaneous start on converting business machines to use decimal currency will be made in eight different zones in New Zealand on D.C. Day, July 10, next year, according to a conversion plan announced yesterday by the Decimal Currency Board.

Zone numbers indicated approximately when an office machine-owner could expect to have it converted to use decimal currency, said the board’s chairman (Mr S. L. Moses). The zone plan for the whole of the country would be followed by machine companies involved in the project. “Collecting machines for conversion will start at the ends of each island and work towards the centre of the islands, for the provincial zones,” Mr Moses added.

In the four metropolitan areas, business centres would be tackled first. The programme would then work outwards progressively through the other zones.

Main points of the zoning system are: The four major metropolitan areas of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin are defined as four separate regions with each divided into five zones.

The rest of the country is then divided into four pro-

vincial regions each of which is also divided into five zones. All zones, whether metropolitan or provincial, are numbered from one to five. Machine conversion will start at the same time in zone 1 of each metropolitan and provincial region. This means that a simultaneous start will be made in eight different zones.

Each zone 1 starts its conversion programme on July 10, 1967, and should be completed by September, 1967.

Other zones will follow in order, with approximate timings being: Zones 2, October to December, 1967; zones 3, January to March. 1968; zones 4, April to June. 1968; zones 5, July to October. 1968.

Mr Moses explained that all trading and savings banks, post offices, most Government departments and many shops would operate in dollars and cents from DC. Day. Preparatory work for these

organisations was already well advanced. "The zoning system is the plan to be followed in converting the rest of the business machines," Mr Moses said.

“There are about 50,000 machines involved in this scheme. Starting points have to be fixed and the whole country covered systematically and progressively. “In the four metropolitan areas the business centres will be tackled first. The pro-

gramme will then work outwards progressively through the other zones. "Machine owners will find that generally work will take place in adjacent streets or towns within a few days or weeks of each other, Mr Moses said. Each machine owner would be notified in writing by the machine company concerned of final arrangements for individual machines. This would be some time before work was due to commence in a particular zone. "We will have a transitional period in each zone until all machines are converted. Mr Moses said. “If shopkeepers try to rush Into the change prematurely there could be confusion for all,” he said. “This is one of the lessons of the Australian change. It should not be used to take advantage of competitors. “The best Interests of everyone will be served if each community adheres as far as possible to the conversion programme outlined,” Mr Moses said

“The longest period to wait, and this applies only to the smallest minority in the last zones, is no more than 15 months— it is expected it will be even less than this. “We will have a lot more harmony wlthia the country if people are tolerant and take the change quietly," Mr Moses suggested.