WHY on earth is the metric system being given such bad press? It is the most sophisticated and efficient scheme of weights and measure ever designed. ("Kilometre 'cock- up'," August 19).

At school we laboured for years learning long past-their-sell-by-date medieval systems that are anything but logical.

Weeks of learning 12 inches to one foot, three feet to a yard, 22 yards to a chain and however many chains to a mile - with rods, poles and perches somewhere in between.

Meantime children in Europe spent a few days learning 1000mm to one metre and 1000 metres to one kilometre. Then they went on to learn something else.

Also bear in mind that hotch-potch system cannot be used on calculators. And who would go back to 12 pence to one shilling, 20 shillings to a pound with no calculator?

Perhaps the opponents can offer a logical argument instead of simply opposing it on the grounds of change. The imperial system is cumbersome, difficult and the only thing in its favour is that we know it.

To suggest you would ask for "0.56 of litre" of ale at the bar is pathetic; we buy litres and half litres of milk and to buy a litre or half litre at the bar is no different.

Never been abroad and had a glass of beer? It's generally served as third litre. What's the problem.

The anti-metric argument is a backward- looking one. A nation that continues to look backward can only end up being backward.

Let's have some common sense and move on to an infinitely superior system already used extensively in science and engineering and junk the worn-out trappings of the past.

G Ledger,

Horseman Close,

Copmanthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, August 23, 2005