THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1912. THE METRIC SYSTEM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 December 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1912. THE METRIC SYSTEM.

A communication was read at the meeting of the Masterton Chambor of Commerce yesterday from the Decimal Association of s London, stating that a Commission would .shortly visit this Dominion, to tako evidence on the question of tho introduction of tho metric system' of 1 weights and measures into the commercial life of the Empire. This system is in operation in America, and on the Continent, and works remarkably well. Tt is claimed for it that it shortens the labour of computation in'the operations of science, industry, commerce and government, and gives a more effective education to children at a lower cost than at present. The matter has on various occasions been brought before the Parliament of New Zealand; but no definite decision has yet been arrived at. The fact is that the majority of our Parliamentarians know po little about the proposed reform and its advantages, that they do not attach the importance to it that it deserves. Sir Joseph Ward, who, as a business man. probably appreciate? the value of the metric system, .endeavoured a few yeans back to deal with the subject, and succeeded in getting empowering legislation passed; but he received so little encouragement from tho Imperial Parliament that ho was compelled to abandon the proposal. The difficulty in bringing about reform-'is the reluctance of the Imperial Government to sanction tho innovation. Tt would be impossible for one part of tho Empire to adopt the metric system, and for.another to retain the present system. To secure the success of the raovmment. tner« must be unanimity. Tii« Federal Parliament decided a'year •»• two back that the mosii convenient method of attaining the object was tie nnssage of n law by tbe lM»»rJai Parliament rendering th« wte #S &« nefrfr dystejft compulsory J ftr tt* !T*iSff<J ttatifott, **d ft* *#

parts of the Entire whose Legislator? have expressed, or may hereafter express, their willingness to adopt that system. To show its sincerity in the matter, the Federal Parliament passed an affirmative resolution, and i Now Zealand went further and em- ' powered thp Executivo to bring in the system within twelve months after the issun of a proclamation, conditional on Great Britain having tak-' en action for the adoption of the system. Prior to the Imperial Conference of 1907, a Bill for tho adoption of the metric system wag introduced in the House of Commons, hut was defeated, on what was regarded as a ] chance division, by 150 votes to 118. ] The Dooimal Association of Great j Britain hap since been actively canvassing the Subject, but has foiled io , convince the British Parliament with ! tho importance of the change. A Oomnv'ssion bns now been set up, and is taking evidence throughout the ; Empire. Ttis to ho hoped that pueh an overwhelming demand will be made by commercial and other institn--1 tions. that tho British Government ! will be compelled to take action in tho matter. Tho first step in tho direction of the adoption of the metric system will bo to make its uf=e in the public school? compulsory. Tn a year or two tho country would be so convinced of the economy, of the I thin?, that it would insist upon its j entering into the commercial life of I the communitv. When the reform in the svstem of weights and measures is effected, op it will assui'edly be in the course of a few years, a demand will arise for the use of the decimal svstem in regard to coinage. Jn the "T'nntimo. the work of the Metric Commission will doubtless remove gm"v of the obstacles in the wav of one of the greatest national reforms that have been advocated '' in recent yenrs. •