STATISTICAL CONFERENCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16038, 31 January 1920, Page 5

STATISTICAL CONFERENCE

QUESTION OP IMPERIAL UNITS. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) Received January 31, 8.15 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 30. The Empire Statistical Conference continues to sit. It agreed to the principle of an Empire Statistical Bureau, but the question of classification of commodities was referred to a committee, as various representatives showed the necessity of several different classifications. Mr Shirras (India) expressed the opinion that in view of the very intimate trade relations of Britain and India, it would be better for India to adopt the practice of the United Kingdom. Mr Cousins (South Africa) raised the question of the need of uniformity in units of quantity and value. It was finally agreed that local units of weights, measures, and value continue in local returns, and that the work of translation into Imperial units when compiling returns dealing with the whole Empire should be done at the Imperial Statistical Bureau. The conference generally favoured the adoption of the calendar year for statistical purposes, hut Mr Knibbs (Australia) favoured the June year.