The Merits of Metric
SIR,—In your issue of August 12th Strix referred to a matter connected with the sale of some of his pigs weighed in " score," and I have just read news in another publication about fish in " crans " and timber in " standards." After forty years of using the metric system, it seems strange to me that, in these days of the unquestionable need for more efficient methods, the United Kingdom still puts up with such a diversified jumble of weights and measures.
Any normal South American school-child, and all adults who have been to school, could answer any three questions based on the metric system and referring to weights (of anything), distance or measures of liquids. They knew it all at twelve years of age. How many adults in the United Kingdom could answer three similar questions based on the tables of weights and measures as learnt at school ? Most of them would have to say, " Well, I am not quite sure, but I think—" about at least one of the questions. The fact, so easy to remember, that one litre of water weighs one kilo and that 1,000 litres measure one cubic metre should have convinced the authorities responsible for United Kingdom education that all children should receive instruction in a system so easy to learn, universally useful and so interesting in its complete efficiency.—Yours
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