The Press SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1967. Over To Decimals

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31416, 8 July 1967, Page 12

The Press SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1967. Over To Decimals

When the shops open for business on Monday most will be ready to deal in decimal currency; but all will still handle £ s d. It should be emphasised, for the benefit of many elderly people, that £ s d will still be acceptable for all transactions. Because it will become increasingly inconvenient to do business in £ s d, most people will begin using the new currency at once and will prefer to handle their business in dollars and cents. The advantages of decimal calculations over the present combination of 12s and 20s are well known to all who have handled decimal currency in other countries and to those who have already familiarised themselves with the system.

The conversion from one system of money to another on Monday marks the culmination of several years’ work, some of it preceding the passing of the Decimal Currency Act in 1964. The transition should be as smooth as far-sighted and careful planning can ensure; the Decimal Currency Board’s campaign of education and preparation, which has reached a climax in the last week, has been effectively directed to catch the attention of the heedless and indifferent as well as the great majority of people who have looked for guidance and instruction. The board’s lead has been willingly followed by the business community. The financial institutions, mainly trading and savings banks, are the most closely affected by the change. Even the most intensive preparations could not make it possible for the banks to change overnight Since they closed on Thursday their staffs have worked far into the night. In the shops virtually every price-tag has been changed, usually to express prices in dollars and cents as well as in £ s d. The larger stores have gone to considerable expense in training their staffs in the problems of conversion; most have appointed decimal “ advisers ” to help shoppers in the early days of decimals.

In Christchurch, the Transport Board has been commendably alert to the problems and needs of the change to decimal currency. Signs at every bus stop inform regular passengers of their new decimal fares; notices in every bus give examples of fares in pence and cents and advise passengers paying their fares in pence after July 9 to “tender high”. By tendering high—to the nearest 6d or Is above , the decimal equivalent—the shopper enables the assistant to give the exact change in cents. Neither party gains or loses.

Some elderly persons' and hard-pressed housewives may fear that traders are “just waiting “ for D.C. Day to put their prices up ”. Their fears are groundless. In Australia the cost of living showed no change in the quarter during which decimal currency was introduced; in New Zealand today the economic climate is even less propitious for widespread price increases. If the currency board’s recommendations are followed, there will be as many lower prices as higher prices. Human nature being what it is, shoppers are more likely to notice the higher prices than the lower ones; they should not be hasty in accusing the shopkeeper or manufacturer of-profiteering. In the early days of the new currency patience and tolerance will be needed on both sides of the counter. Young shop assistants and cashiers should understand that many of their elders will find the new currency—and more especially the dual currency—confusing. These older people—and slow learners of all ages—must be helped, not hustled, if the full benefits of a simplified currency are to be gained without delay.