Himalayan Times (1958)

August 24 1S58,

over ts the new system
should be effected ovtr
a period of t«n years

After a series of cod
sultations with the State
Governments, representa-
tives of industries and
other interests, it has
been decided that a be-
ginning should be' made
with the introduction of
metrio weights in trade
generally in seleoted areas
in different States fiom
Ootober 1, 1958 On the
same day the system will
also be introduced in ma-
jor industries like cotton
textiles, iron and steel,
engineering heavy chemi-
cals, cement, salt, paper
and coffee.

To provide for a
smooth changeover, even
in ■ these selected areas
and industries the use of
existing units will be
permitted for a period of
two years, i e. till Septem-
ber 30. I960.

The new system will
be gradually extended to
larger areas where again
a transitional period ef
two or three years will
be allowed At the same
time the enforcement of
the new system will co-
ver other industries and
economic activities, both
in the public and -private
sectors. By the end ■ of
19'i6 the country will have
completely changed over
to the metrio system.

Thus from Ootober 1,
in the selected areas,

shopkeepers will have the
option to sell food grains,
provisions, vtgetables,
coal, etc , by kilograms
instead of seer or . any
prevalent unit of weight.
Transactions by measure
like retail sale of cloth
will continue to be in the
present units like the
yard. In States like Mad-
ras and Kerala where
food grains are sold by
measure the use of the
present measures would
not be affected.

In the field of major
industries the reform from
October 1, will take -the
form ' of use of the metrio
units in the purchase of
raw materials and sale of
products. Prices and quan-
tities would also be ex-
pressed in metrio units in
all sale and purohase
transactions. The change
will, however, be limited
to the transactions bet-
ween the factories and
their' suppliers and cus-
tomers. Retail sale in the
products of these indus-
tries will not be affected

For the convenience of
one of the industries, viz.
jute where the trading
began on July, 1, the
date of the changeover
wag advanced by three
months. In other words,
the system is already in
force in wholesale transac.
tiona by mills in the jute
industry.

Government depart-
ments and undertakings

have also to changeover
to the new system in a
phased manner. From
Ootober 1, Government
departments and under-
takings may use the met-*
rio system in the pur-
chase and supply of stores.

New surveys of land
and mines will be oh
metric scale, but existing
maps will continue to be
used with conversion
tables drawn on them.
Technical, statistical, scien-
tific and marketing data
collected and published by
Government departments
will also be expressed in
metrio units.

Preparatory Work
Preparatory work, to
herald the new system,
has been undertaken by
the' Central and State
Governments. ' A survey
of manufacturing oapacity
of weights and measures
has been made. This in-
dicates that manufacture
of new weights and mea-
sures will not present any
difficulty. Approved ma-
nufacturers will be licen-
sed by the State Govern'
ments. Weighing machi-
nes will be recalibrated
to metrio units.

A publioity oampaign
to familiarise people with
the new' weights and
measures has been started.

India's decision to
change ever to the metrio
system has aroused world-
wide interest and in the
two big oountries where