----- Original Message -----
From: "BWMA" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 11:53 AM
Subject: Weights and Measures
> Han,
> You asked some questions recently regarding BWMA and weights & measures.
Here
> are some answers.
>
> Q: What is the BWMA's position about the present official [metric]
definitions
> of the foot, inch, pound, the Imperial gallon etc?
>
> A: None. Measurements are determined in terms of distance travelled by
the
> speed of light. Scientists largely use the metric system, and did so when
> measuring the speed of light, so the definition of distance and other
> measurements is recorded in metric. When drawing up legislation, these
are
> the definitions that legislators used. If BWMA were to have a policy on
this,
> I think it is most likely that we would ask that legal definitions be
given in
> both metric and inch-pound.
>
> Q: What is the BWMA's position on Britain having signed the Metric
Convention
> in 1884 and being a member state of the International Bureau of Weights
and
> Measures under this convention?
>
> A: None. We have no objection to people using metric units.
>
> Q: I agree with you about confusing and misleading pricing but not with
> blaming the metric system per s� for such con-tricks. Defective
legislation
> should be blamed for it, not a system of units. Supporters of the metric
> system oppose and condemn such misleading pricing.
>
> A: The current consumer protection laws are watertight - so long as weight
and
> prices are show, no deception has occurred. We argue that lack of
consumer
> familiarity/acceptance of metric indications (eg 650g, 450ml, etc) causes
> consumers to ignore or disregard the weight indications, thereby
undermining
> the legislation.
>
> Finally, regarding the private Eye article ("...aubergines 0.395 kg @
> �2.31/kg"), we draw attention to bad metric practice - however, this is
not
> the sole reason for BWMA's opposition to compulsory use of metric - we
also
> oppose it for reasons of heritage, consumer protection, bureacracy, etc.
>
> Kind regards,
> John
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit www.bwmaOnline.com - campaigning for inch-pound industries and
consumer interests
>
>
