§ EARL FORTESCUE, in moving an Address for Copies of Correspondence relating to Weights and Measures (India), said, that he wished to draw attention 796 to the valuable Report which had been laid upon the table of the House on Tuesday last. He advocated the adoption of the metric system in India in preference to our complicated method of measuring, because then the people of India would have no difficulty in the way of trading with all the civilized world.
§
Moved for—
Address for Copy of despatch from the Government of India to the Secretary of State, of the 6th November 1868, relating to Weights and Measures for India, omitting enclosures: Also,
Correspondence between the India Office and the Board of Trade on the same subject, omitting enclosures, with the exception of a minute by Mr. H. T. Prinsep, Member of the Indian Council, and of a letter from the Warden of the Standards; also further minutes by Mr. Prinsep: And also,
Copy of despatch from the Secretary of State to the Government of India, dated 10th June 1869, omitting enclosures.—(The Earl Fortescue.)
THE DUKE OF ARGYLLsaid, there was no objection to the presentation of the Papers. A short time ago a despatch was received from the Government of India explaining that the weights and measures of that country were in an extremely confused state, and recommending that the metric system should be adopted throughout India. He had much pleasure in sending out a despatch permitting the adoption of the metric system. One of the Papers moved for consisted of a dissent from the course by Mr. Prinsep, a Member of the Indian Council, who had, some time since, taken a distinguished part in reforming Indian weights and measures; but he was alone in his opposition.
§ Motion agreed to.