WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978
10
HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT, AS A RESULT OF THE DISCUSSION, WILL FURTHER THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF ESTABLISHING A STANDARDS BUREAU WHICH HE RAISED IN THE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.
+AS WE ARE NOW TALKING EARNESTLY ABOUT PREPARING OURSELVES TO VENTURE INTO THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY ERA, IT IS A LITTLER INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN ABLE TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE TO RESOLVE SUCH AN ELEMENTARY PROBLEM AS WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. WE HAVE ALL THE WISDOM, BUT WHAT WE SADLY LACK IS DETERMINATION, HE SAID.
FR. MCGOVERN SAID HIS COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS UNNECESSARILY DRAGGING ITS FEET+, +IN FACT I WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT IT HAS NOT GOT A LEG, OR A ROD POLE OR PERCH, TO STAND ON,+ HE SAID.
THE STEPS IT SHOULD TAKE SEEMED TO HIM OBVIOUS. IT SHOULD FOLLOW ALREADY AGREED POLICY AND GO STRAIGHT INTO THE METRIC SYSTEM AS A PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. THE METRICATION UNIT AND THE METRICATION COMMITTEE CAN USE THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND MAKE USE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL, AND CAN USE THE EXPERTISE AND GOOD NAME OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL TO DO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SIDE OF THE WORK.
+ IN THIS WAY GOVERNMENT WILL GET SOME TWO MILLION WEIGHT- CONSCIOUS ADULTS TO ENFORCE THE LAW FREE OF CHARGE FOR THEIR OWN GOOD, HE SAID,
FR. MCGOVERN SAID HE FORESAW ONE SMALL OBSTACLE AND HAD ONE MILD REGRET,
+HE SUSPECTED THAT IN SPITE OF THE IR HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS WHICH CAN INSTANTLY ADJUST THE ODDS TO ENSURE THAT THE PUNTER NEVER GETS AN EVEN BREAK, THE JOCKEY CLUB WOULD CONTINUE TO MEASURE THE HEIGHT OF THEIR HORSES IN HANDS
+A DOUBLE ANACHRONISM SEEING THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH FOUR- FOOTED ANIMALS,+
HIS MILD REGRET WAS THAT THERE MAY BE A CERTAIN LOSS TO THE CHEAPER WIT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, NO LONGER WILL A HEN-PECKED HUSBAND OR MALE CHAUVINIST PIG BE ABLE TO CONSOLE HIMSELF WITH REMARKS LIKE "GIVE A WOMAN AN INCH AND SHE THINKS SHE'S A RULER'.
+PERHAPS NEW PHRASES WILL BE COINED BY SHARPER WITS THAN MINE, HE CONTINUED. +PERHAPS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF "GIVE A WOMAN A CENTIMETRE AND SHE THINKS SHE'S A MILLIPEDE' -- BUT THAT PERHAPS MIGHT BE TOO VENOMOUS A REMARK TO USE AGAINST THE WEAKER SEX.+
FR. MCGOVERN POINTED OUT THAT MUCH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE TOWARDS METRICATION. THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALREADY EXPORTING LARGE QUANTITIES OF GOODS IN METRIC MEASUREMENTS. +THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS BROKEN ITS CHAINS AND NOW MEASURES IN METRES. LAND SALES ARE ALSO DONE IN THE BIGGER MEASUREMENT OF SQUARE METRES, PERHAPS TO REFLECT THE BIGGER INFLATIONARY PRICES FOR WHICH LAND IS BEING SOLD.
/+WE ALSO.....