234 REPORT— 1870. 



were quoted in the same manner in every market of the Tvorld, and if our 

 merchants and corn-growers could understand the ordinary quotations 

 from Stettin and Odessa as readily as those from their own home markets. 

 Nor is the object far from practical attainment. The Committee learn that 

 considerable progress has already been made in the great work ; that a 

 large number of coiintries, having an aggregate population of more than 

 200,000,000 (two hundred millions), both on the Baltic and the Mediterranean 

 seas, and on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, have agreed in adopting and 

 are akeady using the Metric system ; that this system has just been estab- 

 lished throughout our Indian empire ; and that in this kingdom, and in the 

 United States of America, the use of the same Aveights and measures has been 

 made legal and permissive. Under such circumstances, and believing that, 

 if a change is to be made, it is best to endeavour to secure a system as per- 

 fect as possible, one not likely to be again altered, and one equally suitable 

 to the general wants of all classes of the community, that Committee came 

 to the conclusion that the best mode of obtaining a real and permanent uni- 

 formity in weights and measures apphcablo to the sale of grain and other 

 agricultural products and manures, is by adapting our present practice to the 

 metric system. With a view to this object, the Committee made the following 

 recommendations : — 



" (1.) That, in the opinion of this Committee, it is desirable that the Go- 

 vernment should be requested to act upon the recommendations of the 

 Standards Commissioners in their Second and Third Reports, by legislating, 

 with the least practicable delay, in reference to the introduction of the Metric 

 Weights and Measures in this country, and facilitating their use by making 

 proper arrangements for the legal verification and stamping of such weights 

 and measures. 



" (2.) That the Chambers of Agriculture and the Cambers of Commerce be 

 recommended to petition the Legislature to pass, with the least practicable 

 delay, such enactments as wiU establish the kilogram with its decimal mul- 

 tiples and divisions as the standard unit of weight in lieu of the present 

 pound avoirdupois and other imperial and customary weights. 



" (3.) That, in the opinion of your Committee, the use of such standard 

 weights should be made compulsory within a definite time ; and, thenceforth, 

 contracts made by any other weights should be invalid. 



" (4.) That although the Central Chamber of Agricultm-e has recom- 

 mended that grain should be sold by the ' cental ' of 100 lb. (one hundred 

 pounds), which is in use at Liverpool, yet, as your Committee find the general 

 average weight of a sack of the diff'erent kinds of grain to be about 2241b. 

 (two hundred and twenty-four pounds), or the tenth part of a ton, they 

 are of opinion that it would be desirable to substitute for the ' cental,' a 

 weight of 100 (one hundred) kilogrammes (or, in other words, a ' quintal '), 

 which only differs by a fraction from 2201b. (two hundred and twenty 

 pounds). 



" (5.) That this report be printed and copies transmitted to all the Cham- 

 bers of Agriculture and Chambers of Commerce, to Agricultural Societies, 

 Farmers' Clubs, and Municipal Councils, with the request that they will 

 circulate the same and consider the recommendations of this Committee at 

 their earliest convenience." 



From these and other circumstances of a like character, your Committee 

 have reason to conclude that the Metric System is gaining in pubHc favour, and 

 they earnestly hope that Her Majesty's Government may not delay in adopt- 

 ing a bold course on the subject. No time certainly should be lost mean- 



