OUR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES,

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 7

OUR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES,

The suggestion of an enthusiastic advocate of the system of weighing live stock in markets, ancl as a means of ascertaining from time to time the return they are giving for the food consumed, that the weights should be recorded ancl referred to in imperial pounds, has much to commend it to the favour . of slockowners. It would no doubt take some little time to get accustomed to the change from the familiar cwt qi Ib, but the single figure, when once properly understood, is unquestionably the simpler, and affords the more ready comparison of the records of different animals. But how is the change to be brought about? Some few years ago, observes a writer in the Field, a strenuous effort was made to establish a uniform weight standard in the grain markets of Great Britain, but although a parliamentary committee sat and heard evidence on the subject, and the need for the reform was conclusively proved, the effort has so far been absolutely devoid of result. The grain trade continues to be conducted in the same confused fashion, with a distinct weight or measure for almost .every market in the country. Seeing that this muddled state of things is permitted to^ continue in the grain trade, it is, we fear, hopeless to look for any change, voluntary or compulsory, in the standard weights of live stock.