392 
NATURE 
[JUNE II, 1914 
is the argument that the proposed general Act should 
be permissive. To have two sets of weights on the 
shop counter at the same time is not wise. We know 
what it would be to have a 14-lb. set and a kilogram 
set alongside the scale; the changes would be rung. 
The kilogram is very near the size of a 2-lb. weight; 
the metre near the length of the yard, and the litre 
near the size of a quart. With these facts before us 
the Act should, in our opinion, be compulsory.” 
These are the two arguments :—So long as it is 
permissive, people who deal with metric countries 
have to have two standards, and they are handicapped 
in that way, and poor people are exposed to the danger 
of being defrauded. 
The last objection is on the ground of cost. In 
order to have a fair idea of what the cost would be 
it is preferable to examine in detail how various 
interests would be affected if the metric system were 
made compulsory after a transition period of, say, two 
years. Taking first the case of the retail trader with 
whom the general public have most of their dealings. 
I think it fair to quote an inspector of weights and 
measures who spoke in the discussion just now alluded 
to. He said:—‘‘The change to the metric weights 
and measures would really be very little cost to the 
shopkeeper, but he does not realise that this is the 
case. The shopkeeper imagines that the whole of the 
weighing machines and weights have to be changed, 
and it is the weighing instruments that are the 
greatest factor with him. The effect so far as weights 
and measures are concerned is very small in- 
deed. It does not cost much to change either his 
weights or his measures, and J refer to measures of 
length as well as to those of capacity. With regard 
to the changing of lever machines, we know as in- 
spectors that it is a very common thing for a weigh- 
ing-machine maker to have to change the whole of 
his steel-yard markings and to have to rub out the old 
markings and to mark it anew. In this case it would 
be a very easy thing to change the markings, which 
would also apply to platform machines and counter- 
poise weights. The cost would be very small indeed.”’ 
We may take it on the authority of the persons whose 
business it is to know everything about the weights 
and measures of the retail trade that the cost of the 
change would not be an insuperable obstacle. 
The next interest to consider is the textile trade. 
Here, the opponents of the system contend, the cost 
of the change would be appalling because all present 
looms would become obsolete and would have to be 
replaced by new ones adapted to produce metric 
widths of fabrics. I had better take that with the 
engineering trade, because about that the same is 
said. I say in reply to all these arguments, ‘‘ What 
are you doing now? Are you not exporting to metric 
countries, are not engineers exporting to metric coun- 
tries? Have not we in our works plenty of metric 
dimensions to manufacture to; have we ever found 
any difficulty in doing it? Have we ever had to intro- 
duce new machinery specially to make a metric thing ? 
Never!” Even leading screws of English pitch can 
be used to produce screws of French pitch and vice 
versa. You must put in one wheel with 127 teeth 
which makes the changes right. You will find you 
are absolutely correct. When before a Parliamentary 
Committee I was asked :—‘‘ Seeing that in the cotton 
trade the standard make is what is called 79 in., 
372 yards, 8} Ib. shirting—which is known all the 
world over—would it not in some way damage the 
reputation of the shirting if the figures had to be re- 
calculated in all the markets of the world?” Well, at 
the time I had not sufficient time in which to make 
the calculation. What do you get when you re- 
calculate? Seventy-nine inches are 2 metres within 
NO, 2328, VOL, 93] 
a 2 
one-third of 1 per cent.; 37-5 yards are equal to 
34 metres to within one-third of 1 per cent.; and 
8i lb. are 33 kilograms. So you see you have been 
entertaining angels unawares. You have been manu- 
facturing to metric measure. So why say it is diffi- 
cult? The general experience is that wherever the 
metric system has been introduced it has at once been 
accepted as by far the simplest and easiest to com- 
prehend, while it has the great advantage of being 
international, which is more and more necessary 
nowadays where the intercourse between countries is 
increasing. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENEE. 
BirMINGHAM.—At ‘a 
meeting of the council on 
June 3, a letter from Sir George Kenrick was 
read, in which the offer was made to endow 
the Chair of Physics by placing in the hands of the 
treasurer securities the income from which should 
be used exclusively for the salary of the professor 
and objects intimately connected with the Chair, the 
latter to bear in future the title of the ‘‘ Poynting 
Chair of Physics.’”’ It was proposed by the vice- 
chancellor, seconded by Principal Sir Oliver Lodge, 
and unanimously resolved: ‘* That the council most 
gratefully accepts the generous offer of Sir George 
Kenrick to endow the Chair of Physics as a memorial 
to the late Prof. John Henry Poynting. The council 
desires to record its great appreciation of this act 
of munificence which follows so many other proofs 
of Sir George Kenrick’s interest in the welfare of the 
University; . . . Tnat the Mason Chair of Physics 
be henceforth called the Poynting Chair of Physics.”’ 
It is proposed that the title of ‘‘ Mason Professor” 
shall be transferred to another Chair specially asso- 
ciated with the late Sir Josiah Mason. We under- 
stand that the endowment will consist of securities 
of the value of 18,oo0ol. 
Under the will of the late Mr. J. Tertius Collins a 
sum of 2001. has been given to the University, the 
interest to be applied to the founding of a yearly prize 
or prizes for proficiency in chemistry or metallurgy _ 
or some kindred object in science. 
Profs. Boulton, Cadman, and Turner have been 
appointed delegates to represent the University at the 
International Congress of Mining, Metallurgy, 
Engineering, and Practical Geology. 
Dr. W. E. Fisher has resigned his demonstrator- 
ship in mechanical engineering on his appointment to 
the engineering department of the Staffordshire 
County Institute at Wednesbury. 
CAMBRIDGE.—During the Michaelmas term Dr. 
Myers will give a course of lectures in the psycho- 
logical laboratory on general and _ experimental 
psychology, considered especially in relation to medi- 
cine. 
The Vice-Chancellor has published a summary of 
benefactions received by the University during the 
year ended December 31, 1913. The total amount 
of the benefactions acknowledged by Grace is 20,8611., 
and this included an anonymous gift of 10,o00l. for the 
endowment of a professorship of astrophysics, 36611. 
from subscribers to the Humphrey Owen Jones Fund, 
to establish a lectureship in physical chemistry, and 
1500l. from Mr. C. E. Keyser, for the building fund 
of the new museum of archeology and of ethnology. 
In addition a sum of 240961. has been received in 
smaller sums by the Cambridge University Associa- 
tion. 
A studentship on the Arnold Gerstenberg foundation 
will be offered for competition in the Michaelmas term 
of 1915. The studentship will be awarded by means 
re 
— 
as ie ~e 
