Nothing Difficult In Change To Decimals

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 20

Nothing Difficult In Change To Decimals

There is nothing really difficult in the New Zealand change to dollars and cents which starts in four months, on July 10, says a news release from the Decimal Currency Board. The new dollars and cents are just a tidying up of existing money, making it easier

to -use. All existing bank notes can be used. Their new values are easy to understand. Most current coins have “twin” values in dollars and cents. These are also easy to learn. Indeed, these facts were the most compelling reason behind New Zealand’s adoption of a 10s dollar for our decimal (tens) currency system. Each 10s of £.s.d. becomes $l, so each £1 becomes $2. Each $1 is divided into 100 cents, not 120 pence. It will now be possible to count our money in tens all the way, rather than in the old mixture of twos, twelves, twenties and only then to tens. Each cent is worth more than the old penny (which were 120 to each 10s). Rehearsal Suggested The new values will have to be learned and appreciated. Most of this will come with the first few days of actual use, but some rehearsal is advisable. Many shops are already marking prices in both dollars and cents and £.s.d. This will help. It will also help if people do some window shopping practice of their own. Children are already learning about the new currency at schools. It would not pay for mothers and fathers to seem less prepared than their own children!