Britain does *not* use metric standards. We were there about 3 years ago and petrol was sold in gallons and the speed signs were in miles per hour. The speedo on our rental car was in mph. Stuff at the supermarket was sold in pounds.
Britain has *not* gone metric. -- ------------------------------------------------- Zane Gilmore Development and Web Infrastructure Team Leader DDI: 325 9631 Cell:0276 319 206 The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited: Rangahau Ahumaara Kai Postal Address: Plant & Food Research Lincoln Private Bag 4704, Christchurch Mail Centre, CHRISTCHURCH 8140 Physical Address: Plant & Food Research Lincoln Canterbury Agriculture & Science Centre, Gerald St, Lincoln 7608 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/ -------------------------------------------------- >>> On 12/02/2009 at 9:13 a.m., in message <[email protected]>, Steve Holdoway <[email protected]> wrote: > On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:52:39 +1300 > "Payne, Owen" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Um, technically it went metric, but they never really had the spine to > enforce it, so all the kids are taught in metric, whilst the rest of the > country uses imperial. If you ask about this anyone over 40 tells you it's > because they find it easier to work out!!!! > > [snip] > > Britain actually went metric in 1965, 4 years before New Zealand. Surprising > it did at all since it was invented by the French (: I think the only > (major?) non-metric country left in the world is the US. The only hangover > that's in common usage is the measurement of road distances/speed in miles. > For example, the 22m line on a rugby pitch which is really 25 yards. ( in the > Netherlands you can still ask for an "ounce" of cooked meat at the deli - > although it now means 100g ). > > And yes, I'm somewhat over 40, and remember being taught basic arithmetic > with pounds, shillings and pence as well... > > Steve On 1 December 2008 HortResearch merged with Crop & Food Research to create The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited. "The contents of this email are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disseminate, distribute or reproduce all or any part of this email or attachments. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete all material pertaining to this e-mail. Any opinion or views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender and may not represent those of The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited."
