§ MR. J. B. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he intends to bring forward any measure to relieve persons who, acting under an Act of Parliament passed in 1864, which declared "it is expedient to legalize the use of the Metric system of Weights and Measures," make use of the same, but who, according to the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, are liable to be prosecuted if such weights and measures are found in their possession; and, whether he intends during the present Session to bring in a general measure for the regulation of weights and measures?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, the Question was to a certain extent founded upon a misconception of the Act to which it made reference, for, while the Preamble of the Act declared that it was expedient to legalize the use of the metric system of weights and measures, the enacting part only legalized contracts made in metric terms. The Standards Commission had, however, recommended the permissive legalization of the metric system, and he might say that any Bill he might bring in on the subject of weights and measures would endeavour to carry that suggestion into effect. He did not see, however, any prospect of introducing such a Bill during the present year.