APPENDIX II. 



REFORM IN THE BRITISH SYSTEM OF 

 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



The following is a summary of a Paper read at the 

 British Association Meetings at Portsmouth in 1911 : 



The British system is a very illogical and cumbersome 

 system. Elaborate calculations have often to be made 

 which would be much more easily and accurately done with 

 a decimal system. The metric system is a decimal system, 

 but the British people do not take kindly to it, largely 

 because it would involve the use of entirely different units of 

 weights and measures. Further, it would mean scrapping 

 existing weights and measures. 



The British lb. as a unit of weight has much to recom- 

 mend it and should be retained, especially when it is also 

 the unit of weight for the British Empire as well as the 

 United States. A change in the unit here would mean the 

 scrapping of many weights. 



The gallon is also a very useful measure which under 

 normal temperature and atmospheric pressure (62 F. and 

 30 mms. Barometric pressure) weighs lOlbs., hence we have 

 already a decimal connection between weight and volume. 



The reformed system may then be as follows : 



* The lOlb. weight is already in use at some English Warehouses. 

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