§ MR. EWART, in moving for leave to introduce a Bill for the introduction into this country of the Metric System of Weights and Measures, said, that a Committee of that House which had sat upon the subject had reported in favour of such a measure. All the foreign Commissions likewise which had considered the subject had been favourable to a Bill like that which he now sought to introduce. He would leave the House to determine the period when the metrical system should be adopted. He thought himself that five years would be a sufficient time to allow in order to prepare the public for its adoption.
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, that he should not offer any opposition on the part of the Government to the introduction of the Bill; but he wished to remind the hon. Gentleman that this was one of the points which would be brought under the consideration of the Royal Commission at present sitting on the subject of Weights and Measures, and he thought it would be as well to defer any measure of this kind until that Commission had reported.
§
Motion agreed to.
Bill to establish the Metric System of Weights and Measures, ordered to be brought in by Mr. EWART, Mr. BAZLEY, Mr. BAINES, Mr. JOHN BENJAMIN SMITH, and Mr. GRAVES.
Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 44.]