UNIFORMITY OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 233 



the recommendation of the Standard Commissioners, the Postal Authorities 

 have decided to adopt the j- of an ounce as an equivalent for the 10 grams ; for 

 not only are the two Aveights not identical, but we miss a rare opportunity 

 for introducing into practical use, part at least of a system, which there is 

 every reason to believe will, sooner or later, become national. Apart from 

 the action of the Government, there is ample evidence that the early intro- 

 duction of the Metric System is desired by the people. In May last, an im- 

 portant conference was held in the rooms of the Society of Arts, when the 

 following resolutions were unanimously carried : — 



1. That tlie great inconvenience to Agriculture, Manufactures, and Com- 

 merce, as well as to Science, resulting from the numerous complicated and 

 anomalous Weights and Measures now in use, whether by law or custom, in 

 the British Empire, demands the attention of the Legislature at the earliest 

 practicable time, with a view to the establishment of some convenient uniform 

 Decimal system throughout the United Kingdom. 



2. That the Standard Commissioners having recommended the abolition of 

 Troy Weiglits, this Conference is of opinion that all those who now use 

 the same should substitute for them, not the lb. Avoirdupois, but the Kilo- 

 gram, with its divisions and multiples, by which another practical step will 

 be made towards the complete adoption of the Metric System throughout 

 the British Empire, which, in the opinion of this Meeting, is an object of 

 the highest importance. 



3. That in order to facilitate the speedy introduction of Metric Weights 

 and Measures and an International Coinage, this Conference deems it highly 

 desirable that Decimal Arithmetic, with the specialities of the Metric Sj'stem, 

 should be taught in all the Schools in the United Kingdom. 



Your Committee have also much pleasure in reporting, that during the 

 year, in consequence of general complaints of the numerous descriptions of 

 weights and measures by which grain is sold in different markets of the 

 kingdom, a Joint Committee of the Central Chamber of Agriculture and the 

 International Decimal Association have produced a report to the following 

 eifect. From the report of that joint Committee, it appears that the ex- 

 treme difference of practice in the weights and measures used in different 

 markets of the United Kingdom, for the sale of grain and other agricultural 

 products and manures, is the cause of considerable inconvenience and loss. 

 The Banbury, Devonshire, Essex, Howdenshire, Kincardineshire, Leicester- 

 shire, Malton, Monmouthshire, Norfolk, North of England, North Biding of 

 Yorkshire, Scottish, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire Chambers of Agri- 

 culture were unanimous in their opinion that steps should be taken for ob- 

 taining a uniform system as speedily as possible ; and from long experience 

 that Committee was convinced that no voluntary or permissive legislation, 

 and that no local arrangement or understanding will enable us to realize the 

 object in view. In the language used by more than one of such Chambers, 

 " Whatever standard be decided upon, the same should be made compulsory 

 throughout the country." Besides, however, a general testimony in favour 

 of uniformity of Weights and Measures in the United Kingdom, the Com- 

 mittee found that a movement has been gaining groimd for extending such 

 uniformity among all countries. And the Committee were strongly impressed 

 with the conviction that, dependent as we are upon foreign countries for 

 the supply of grain, other agricultural products and manures, great advan- 

 tage would be derived if, in making the necessary change, we could contri- 

 bute to the realization of this larger object. It would save time, it would 

 prevent errors, it would greatly facilitate commercial transactions, if grain 



1870. B 



