Decimal Conversion Discrepancies

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31409, 30 June 1967, Page 15

Decimal Conversion Discrepancies

Discrepancies will occur in conversion from £ s d to deci-j mal currency where items were bought in multiple sales, but these balance out over a range of sales, according toi “Converter” in a letter to “The Press.” A spokesman for the Deci-! mal Currency Board agreed' with the examples cited in the letter. “Converter” wrote:— “Dear Sir, “As the Decimal Currency Board doesn't seem to be going to do it, I have worked out a list of the cheaper price ‘ endings in both currencies? While a couple of cents loss or gain a day is not going to worry a lot of us, there are many people in our com-'

munity, pensioners, students, and those recently unemployed, who have to watch every cent

“For Instance, if you wanted to buy 16oz of wool to make a cardigan and your wool cost 2s Id (21c) an oz, you would buy it at an £ s d store because you would then save 3 cents over someone buying it at a decimal shop ($3.33 against $3.36).

“If the type of wool you want costs 29c (2s lid) an oz you would get it at a decimal store, because you would save 3 cents over someone buying it at an £ s d store ($4.64 against $4.67). ! “List of cheaper price endings:— “Cheaper in £ s d stores: id, 2d-2c, 7d, Bd, 9d-Bc. i “Cheaper in $ c stores: i2c=3d, 3c, 4c, 8c=“10d, 9c. “6d and 5c are equal in both stores: Is and 10c are equal in both stores.”

The correspondent was perfectly correct in the examples cited, commented a Decimal Currency Board spokesman. The universal conversion table was the fairest way of converting prices, but there were discrepancies where a number of items were bought in multiple sales. But, as the correspondent pointed out, these would balance out.

It should also be remembered, the spokesman said, that £ s d stores would become progressively fewer after D.C. Day and would cease operation as such at the end of the 15-month conversion period.