Kilopascal wrote in USMA 10689 wrote:
> Probably the pro-metric folks thirty years ago were then more optimistic
>about U.S. conversion within 10 years than pro-metric folks today on the
>subject of conversion within 10 years. How about it? Can you remember thirty
>years ago? THEN how soon did you expect U.S. metrication? And now what do
>you expect?
In July 1971 the Natiobnal Bureau of Standards published a series of 13
reports under the title "A metric America, A decision whose time has come".
In preparing these reports NBC consulted 849 national associations
Maurice H. Stearns, Secretary of Commerce, in transmitting these reports to
Congress recommended "That the United States change to the International
System deliberately and carefully....establish a target date ten years
ahead, by which time the U.S. will have bexome predominantly, though not
exclusively, metric".
The Government of Canada in January 1970 published a White Paper on Metric
Conversion in Canada. The Government's plan was accepted by Parliament
without a dissenting vote. Opposition to metrication only arose in 1980
when the metrication of retail food scales was about to commence.
Apparently ordinary folk felt they would be embarrassed by not knowing how
many kilograms to ask for.
Joseph B. Reid
17 Glebe Road West
Toronto M5P 1C8 Tel. 416 486-6071
