Hi, Bar - thanks for your interesting input. Have responded point by point -
enjoy!
Sincerely, Len.
Rule Britannia - but which ruler?
God save the Queen! And our democracy, and our unwritten but nevertheless
effective constitution. (see final para for a more complete answer to your
identical closing question)
At the same time as the introduction of metric measurement of the volume
of
fuel, it was proposed to introduce the metric measure for distance. This
was
stopped due to the enormous cost to alter every signpost showing a
distance!
A small island with lots of roads and an even greater number of signposts.
Small - compared to - what? Population over 59mm (end 2002). Excluding NI
and offshore islands, main island coastline exceeds 4000 miles (from memory)
and road infrastructure was 392321 kms at end 2003**.
** (specific data from
mhttp://
www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/page/dft_transstats_032077.pdf.
)
Some facts regarding the UK's adoption of metric meaures:
In the mid-20th century, Britain recognised that there were substantial
benefits to industry, trade and education by implementing the metric
system.
As a result, in 1965, the government announced plans to adopt the metric
system in Britain and led the entire Commonwealth to do the same. More
than
38 years later Britain is the only Commonwealth country that has not
completed the transition.
Not only that, but UK is one of the very few countries still driving on the
left.
Metric units of measurement are now used for most transactions regulated
by
the Weights and Measures Act 1985. In addition, it is Government policy to
encourage the adoption of the metric system for other purposes, including
public administration.
WMA also covers beer - they haven't succeeded in metricating our pint!
Indeed I don't recall they even tried! Do remember the national outcry on
first mention, though. They have succeeded with spirit measures - no more
1/6th (in Scotland, 1/4) of a gill, it's been 25cl for quite a while, and
has since increased in many pubs (in the South, anyway) to 35cl. Another
rip-off - hotels are charging pub 35ml price or greater, for 25cl measure.
The British public has not benefited from the consistency of the metric
system. Metric labelling on packaged food was introduced in 1995 however
it
took a further five years for metric weighing of loose food to be mandated
in
2000.
Totally agree. Butter and fats (500 grams packs replaced 1/2 lb packs almost
seamlessly, but sugar (replacing 2lb bags with 1kg bags) was a disaster -
late 60's early 70's. I well remember the artificial sugar shortage - it was
almost "black market" trading, trying to find some, for about 2 weeks till
(miraculously) metric packs appeared. And, metric labelling of prepacked
"dry" foodstuffs (cooked meat, for example) has encouraged suppliers to go
to extraordinary lengths to drag the last penny - we were all relatively
comfotable with "a quarter" (pound) of corned beef - pre-packs come in a
variety of gram sizes, completely non-standard packs. Rip-off, yet again!
As with decimalisation, metrication was a route to unnecessary and
unjustified price hikes - basic commodities never returned to equilibrium.
Who lost out? The poor and the pensioners - those least able to afford it..
What was the sense in introducing the sale of petrol in litres in the late
1980s and at the same time keeping road distances in miles.
What real benefit is there to change to kms? A distance of 50 miles (80km)
still takes an hour to drive at 50mph (80kph) and the volume of fuel
consumed remains the same, whichever liquid unit is used. It's a generation
thing - I think in mpg, my daughters (near 40 years younger - I married
late) routinely think in mpl, 'cos they were taught "metric" at school.
As an excellent example of this confusion, roads are designed and
buildings
constructed using exclusively metres. Regulations for the dimensions of
parking bays, road signs and road markings are given in metric units.
Commercial vehicles are required to be equipped with tachographs which
record
using kilometre-based measurements. However, distance signs and speed
limits
are exclusively in miles, yards and miles per hour, whilst feet and inches
predominate in height and width restrictions where signposted!
Yes, BUT commercial vehicles cost/charge their deliveries using Routemaster
(or equivalent) which also provides drivers with detailed route and
distance. This prog must use both kms and miles (for continental journeys)
and whilst I can easily find out, (won't be till tomorrow), I suspect UK
tachograph cards have dual scale recording, since they can be used both in
UK and on the Continent as evidence of speeding. Re height and width
restriction signs - all those in my area are dual (and I believe it's law
that they must be). Open to correction on that point.
Re buildings etc - give credit for one thing. Plumbing fittings and pipe
sizes metricated almost exactly to Imperial (13mm pipe/fittings fit 1/2"
without problems, ditto 19mm to 3/4 inch). If only all other trades did the
same!
Rule Britannia - but which ruler?
Not into politics, BUT - no way do we hand this country's total wealth over
to the corrupt Brussels bureaucrats and sign up to the Euro. Ted Heath sold
us down the river on the original referendum - we understood it was
basically a "free trade" agreement. Maggie T (bless her heart) considerably
retarded further involvement, but Maastricht undid much of her effort.
Gordon Brown is doing his best, but his responsibility is soon to end -
we'll have yet another Tony Crony to sell us down the river yet again, esp
as UK chairs the EU July-Dec '05. Only saving grace is the up-coming
referendum - on the wording announced, 90% of Brits will vote "NO", per
recent poll. Bring it on!!
In answer to your question - we, the voters. Sometimes we make mistakes.
Sincerely, Len
.. my first recollection of gas prices was paying 6s