Proceedings of the South African Philosophical Society, xxix 



The following gentlemen were subsequently appointed to the 

 Committee : Mr. G. M. Clark and Mr. H. G. Fourcade. 



The Committee met on December 27, 1901, the following mem- 

 bers being present : Sir David Gill, in the Chair, Messrs. H. G. 

 Fourcade, D. E. Hutchins, E. T. Littlewood, Dr. T. Mum, Pro- 

 fessor Thomson, and the Secretary of the Society. 



It was unanimously agreed to lay the following report before the 

 Society at the next ordinary meeting. 



The Committee recommends : — 



*' 1. The desirability of making the metric system of w^eights and 

 measures legal throughout the several South African Colonies, as it 

 is at present in England. 



2. The compulsory introduction, at some definite date, of the 

 metric system by the Home Government, with a view to its early 

 adoption throughout the Empire. 



3. That a decimal system of coinage be adopted, the sovereign 

 being taken as the fundamental unit. 



4. That the attention of the several governments and administra- 

 tions, and other bodies in South Africa interested in the question be 

 directed to the above recommendations." 



, Considerable discussion ensued, and after various suggestions had 

 been offered and amendments made the meeting agreed upon the 

 following : — 



" 1. The desil'ability of making the metric system of weights and 

 measures legal throughout the several South African Colonies, as it 

 is at present in England. 



2. The compulsory introduction at some definite date of the 

 metric system into the several South African Colonies. 



3. The adoption throughout the Empire of a decimal system of 

 coinage, the sovereign being taken as the fundamental unit." 



It was resolved that the above resolutions be sent to the Hon. the 

 Prime Minister, and that the Society should ask the Colonial 

 Government to draw the attention of the Home Government and 

 the other Governments of the Empire to the necessity for the 

 introduction of the metric system and of a decimal coinage 

 throughout the Empire, and that the suggestion be made to the 

 Hon. the Prime Minister that this subject might be worthy of 

 consideration at the forthcoming conference of Colonial Ministers 

 in London. 



It was further resolved that the above resolution should be com- 

 municated to other scientific societies. 



The following report of the Committee appointed to consider the 



