THE METRIC SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13860, 25 March 1907, Page 5

THE METRIC SYSTEM

DISCUSSED Bγ ME HOUSE OF CO.MMOXK. COMPULSORY HILL EKJF.CTED. Press Associnlien-By Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, March 23. (Received March 24, i>t 4.54 p.i,*,.) In the House oE Commons the Compulsory, Metric Weights and Measures Jiill was negatived by 150 (i> 118. Mr LloydGenrgc (President of the Hoard of Trade) emphasised tho danger of an alteration in tho present system, ii|. view of the facit fli.lt. Iho hlifk of British trade was with countries which had not adopted tho metric system..

Till- following is u list of countries which iisu Mid nmlrii! sysloni, with remark* as lo whether Mm cluing- was , made with c:is<' or diliieulty. ulso Mid (lain of introduction. Austria. 1871. — If old measures were still ill use after fho four vcaw in some places, this was duo Iβ laxity of local authorities, nnil'not. to public objection lo the svstan. Hungary, 1875.—01 d measures used for long aftor 1876 in ccrlain districts, and in irin!ato<l places-still in use. Belgium, 1816.—Original lew not rigidly enforced. Hulpiria, 1888. - Change not .yet tliorongly carrii'd out. Denmark.—Metric .system-'■ not adopted, hut used in reports on Slate railways and in statistics. Prance, i793.— Original law not rigidly applied. In 1812 use of old measures, etc , !, recognised. lii 1837 metric system made, compulsory in two years and a-half. ttermany, 1863.—01 d measures of Icnglii and surface still largely used. ,. The fact flint the Zollvereiu pound was equal lo half kilo facilitated -introduction, as also did tho fc-cte that t-lic different States had widely different weighU and measures, and tho period covered by the chango synehronitfrd willi great political changes. Greece, 1826.—N0t compulsory. Tried by the Government for some, purposes, but not by traders. Italy.—Varied in different parts from 1345 to 1870. In Southern Italy the change is filill incomplete In Northern Italy tho adoption of tho metric systo'm was-relatively ensy; the clmnpc 'haying been welcomed in parts as a. visible sign of liberation from Austria. Netherlands. 1816.—At tho end of tho period tho system was not by any moans generally adopted, and is not now in all respects universally applied. Portugal, 1852.—Delay attributed to ignorance of people. In provincial districts 75 per cent, of population elill unableto read or write. liu.-sia.—-Metric system not adopted, except in Finland, where it was brought into us! after a period of two years for preparation. Spain, 1849.—Delay duo to passive resistance. In tho smaller towns (he old measures arc still in use, but not weights. Sweden. 1878.—Na, great difficulty cxperioiit*ad in the change.

_ Switzerland, 1675.-Xo great difficulty in the towns, but less easv in Ihe country. Turkey, 18?G.—Though the old measures, elc, wcro confiscated, the attempt lo make the use of tho innfrio system compulsory in Constant iiioulo failed: and a subsequent efTcrt to mbo;h:co ilio kitogrammc was abandoned. Argentina, 1863 (optional); 1887 (compulBrnzil.—Metric system adopted without difficulty more than ?.O years ago; some old measures, nte., still in partial use. feypf, 1873.—Decree of 1873 wjt enforced. System adopted for Gove'rnment. departments in 1E92. excont for measurement of land and tonnage of ships. Tho trade of Hie country is carried on in old measures, ele. Japan.—Metric system legalised in 1903, but not in uso. , Mexico. 1602 (optional); 1805 (compiilforyj.—Old measures, etc., still in partial use. hut. will shorilv dieappear. Uniled State?, IGcO (rtptio;ial).-Mct-rio ejstem not used to anv extent for trade. ' The. Colonies and the- Metric System.— At tho Confeienco of' Colonial Premiers in 1902, a resolution was passed to this effect— "That it is adviVahlo to adopt the metric system of weights and measures for use within the empire, and the Prime Ministers urge tho Governments represented at this confcrcnco fo Rive'consideration to the Question of ilfl early adoption." This does not include currency.