METRICATION BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.38 p.m.

The Minister for Science and Technology (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Govindasamy. Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Metrication Bill seeks to legalise the use of the metric system and to enable the Ministers to change references to non-metric units in any written law to references in equivalent metric units and to empower Ministries to accept approximations in conversion. I have already made a statement in the House at the last sitting on the reasons why Singapore must proceed with the metrication process. However, it may be interesting to Members of the House if I read excerpts of the folklore behind the imperial Weights and Measures as compiled by Lord Ritchie-Calder, who is now Chairman of the British Metrication Board.

The foot is not, as popularly believed, the size of the human foot. As human feet vary from person to person and because of this great variation, one thousand years ago 36 barley corns or 36 seeds of barley taken from the middle of the ear placed end to end were regarded as one foot. And three of these barley seeds placed end to end constituted one inch. A yard was the distance from the tip of King Edgar's nose to the tip of the middle finger of his outstretched arm. A fathom was said to be the length of a Viking's embrace. An acre was the amount of land that could be ploughed in a day by a yoke of oxen. The amount could vary, depending on whether the soil was heavy or light. In those days the larger unit was called the hide; it too was a variable measurement, being based on the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plough in a year. This amount, which averaged about 120 acres, was deemed enough to support a family.

In Germany, the length of the road, now known as the rod or pole or perch, was established by a random sample of 16 men coming out of church: they stood toe-to-heel, and the overall length was accepted as the standard.

The Romans measured out their mile. Their mile was a thousand paces, equivalent now to 1,618 yards. A pace, however, is a variable unit, and so the mile has varied. The British and American mile was standardised at 1,760 yards, but in a number of European countries, the mile ranges from less than a British-American mile to six such miles.

So while there was much in the old days to commend the units based on the human body, however, the units based on the anatomy of the human being were too variable, and therefore the standards used varied from country to country. For example, in the North of Italy in Leonardo da Vinci's time, lengths were in braccia or arm lengths. Leonardo was a tall man and could outreach most of his contemporaries. If he was using his own braccia, he must have run into difficulties when he had to fit something he had designed or made into-something measured according to other braccia. Even the standard braccia varied from city to city. A Florentine door would have been too big for a Milanese door-frame. Throughout the centuries, measurements proliferated in regions, countries and localities, and persisted long after their original significance and utility had been forgot- ten. As a result, there were problems, not only in fitting but also in making sure of honest measure and in avoiding confusion born of misunderstanding.

The Metrication Act seeks to standardise weights and measures according to an international system. The system now is based on physical units which can be measured extremely accurately.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

3.43 p.m.

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Mr Govindasamy, Sir, the comments of the Minister for Science and Technology on metrication in the House during the last sitting on 4th November, 1970, and his own reference just now to the arbi trary basis of traditional weights and measures should leave no doubt that there is no argument about whether we-should go metric or not. Quoting from Ritchie-Calder whom the Minister referred to just now, the really important question is, just when should we go metric? The answer to this question is also clear; namely, as soon as it is organisationally and administratively feasible. This aspect of feasibility is more than adequately covered in the report on the proposed conversion to the metric system. The report refers both to metrication in the public and the private sectors. It would seem most illogical for us to continue using our old system of weights and measures. In the case of the imperial units, for example, the country where this system originated has itself decided in its own interest to change over to the metric system. Where our own local customary units are concerned, it would be most parochial indeed if we were to persist in their continued use. In Britain itself it has been clearly seen, after initial resistance, that the advantages of metrication must outweigh national sentiments or traditional feelings. It is just a question of making a decision and acting logically as a result of it.

The conversion to metrication is just another process of modernisation and social change which we have to undergo. Our people have shown themselves very adaptable to such changes. There is no reason why, once the necessity has been clearly demonstrated, even the private sector and those involved in the retail trade should not adjust themselves to the new system of weights and measures. To facilitate this, not only are good publicity and public education required, but they should be started as soon as possible and sustained over as long a period as is necessary to bring home the relevant point.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. ----[Dr Toh Chin Chye].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment: read a Third time and passed.