A.—3

5

Mr. Chief Justice Wbenfobdsley stated that up to the present time he had been unaware of any such Government notice. Unipoem Tabctf. Mr. Moegan moved (seconded by Mr. Giblln), That this Conference is prepared to consider an uniform tariff for the whole of the Australian Colonies, based on the present tariff of New South Wales. After discussion, Mr. Bebey moved (seconded by Mr. Mooee), That the further consideration of this matter be postponed until after the conclusion of all other business. —Agreed to. The Conference then adjourned until to-morrow at 10 o'clock. Hettey Paekes, Chairman.

Wednesday, 19th January, 1881. fifth day. Present: New South Wales: The Hon. Sir Heney Paekes, K.C.M.G., M.P. The Hon. James Watson, M.P. Victoria: The Hon. Geaham Beeet, M.P. The Hon. William M. K. Vale, M.P. South Australia: The Hon. William Moegan, M.L.O. The Hon. Chaeles Mann, Q.0., M.P. Queensland: The Hon. Aethue Httstteb Palmee, M.P. The Hon. Boyd Dttnlop Moeehead, M.L.C. • • • Tasmania: The Hon. William Eobeet Giblin, M.P. The Hon. William Mooee, M.L.C. Western Australia: The Hon. Chief Justice Wbehtobdsley. The minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read and confirmed. The Chaieman laid before the Conference a letter which had been addressed to him by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Vale moved (seconded by Mr. Palmee), That this letter be entered upon the minutes of the Conference. —Agreed to. "To the Hon. Sir Henby Paekes, K.C.M.G-. « Sib,— " Sydney, 18th January, 1881. " The Chamber of Commerce desire to bring under your notice, with a view to its being considered by the members of the Intercolonial Conference, the expediency of the Australasian Colonies adopting the cental of 100 lb. as the standard in sale of grain and other agricultural produce, instead of the present complicated system of weights and measures. " The Melbourne Chamber of Commerce have brought the matter under the notice of the Chief Secretary of Victoria; and it is hoped, if the representatives of these two colonies view the proposed change favourably, that the representatives of the other colonies (in some of which the matter has already been favourably entertained) will concur in its adoption. " The several Governments might easily pave the way to the general introduction of the cental, by using it as the standard in Government contracts, railway carriage, and Customhouse returns. " The proposed change is not a new idea: it has repeatedly been discussed by the several Chambers of Commerce; and I forward copy of Sydney Chamber Eeport of 1869, where at page 4 you will find a resolution on the subject arrived at by delegates from the Chambers of Commerce of Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney, at a conference held in Sydney in June, 1869; and the matter was referred to in a report of last year, page 6 of copy enclosed. " The Board of Trade in London has a cental standard of 100 lb. to test private weights. The cental as a grain standard is now in use in England, in the cities of Liverpool, York, and Crewe, in Belfast, in some parts of Scotland, and in the County of Cornwall, and in Victoria, in levying duties on corn and flour. I need hardly say it is in use in America—North and South, and the metric system generally is now solely in use in Prance, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and in the British Colony of Mauritius. " The Chamber of Commerce take this opportunity of suggesting that the decimal system of coinage should, with the cental standard, be taught in the State schools, as well as the present more complicated systems of money, weights and measures, and so familiarize the rising generation with these systems, and enable them to judge of the relative merits of the proposed change as compared with those of the present systems; and, in bringing this within the range of practical legislation, they hope to have the sympathy and aid. of the Minister of Education and the Ministry generally as well as your own. " I have, &c, " John B. Watt, " Chairman, Chamber of Commerce." Extract from Chambers's JEncyclopwdia, last edition. " The French plan of decimal gradation in weights and measures is the only rational one, because it is in accordance with the universally-adopted decimal notation. If thoroughly carried out, the facilities it would afford in every department of life are scarcely calculable. " For one thing, it is not too much to say that one-half the time now spent in Great Britain in learning arithmetic might be saved. " That study might in addition be made an effective means of intellectual discipline, whereas at present the time must be spent in acquiring something like a ready but blind application of complicate^ rules."