Interim treble pricing

I am neither being jocular nor cynical in recommending a uniquely Maltese-style method for ending the current euro display controversy where everyone (except the rogues) aims at the same target, that is, protection of the consumer from rogue retailing. "Quenching thirst with ham" is a literal translation of a popular saying in our vernacular which I have never really understood, but would love to.

At the moment there exists a free-for-all in dual lira-euro pricing. This must stop. However, for those retailers willing to accept euro payments before this is made compulsory, by way of an interim measure they must be made forthwith to exhibit three prices, namely, lira, the equivalent official euro conversion and their own euro charge.

To take as an example the 45c coffee in Valletta mentioned recently in these correspondence columns: Lm0.45, €1.05 and €2. The buyer (caveat emptor) would at least know the transaction cost.

No doubt the "rogue" element therein would immediately narrow to a more acceptable margin and possibly vanish completely if and when the banks are "morally-suaded" (as they should) to forgo their turn. When the Malta lira was tied to sterling before 1971 the banks charged no transaction fee. Why should they now?