INFORMATION SOUGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 84, 19 January 1928, Page 2

INFORMATION SOUGHT

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH. MANUFACTURERS INTERESTED. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. I Information is to be gathered by the organiser (Mr E. H. Marnner) of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, as to industrial problems that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research could assist in solving. At a meeting of the executive of the Association last evening a letter was read from Air J. Sutherland Ross, president of the* New Zealand Manuracturers’ Federation,' who wrote that he had received a letter from Dr. Marsdeh' (secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) containing the following: “The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister arid the chairman of my Cpuncil have authorised me to discuss with you the general question of research associations associated with New Zealand manufactures, and I hope to call on you within the next few weeks. Your assistance and cooperation as president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association is cordially invited.” He had expressed his willingness to give any assistance in his power, but stating that until he got specific data from the Manufacturers’ Associations in the various centres the interview could not be of any great practical benefit. He asked, the Canterbury Association to forward any information which he could use profitably in discussing .the question with Dir. Marsden. He was aware that various firms and companies had their own laboratories for research, and preferred that the results of their investigation should accrue to themselves alone, but there were many problems concerned with what he might describe as general principles (as opposed to trade secrets) where the spread of further information among the members of a given trade would be beneficial to one and all.

The president (Mr A. W. Beaven) said that the Department evidently was anxious to help manufacturers. Air H. Willis moved: “That the organiser wait on firms and discuss this matter, and receive suggestions to be' forwarded to the New Zealand president.” Mr D. Colquhoun said that an investigation in connection with the boot trade was on a slightly different footing from that indicated in the letter before the meeting. The Government desired the boot trade investigation to be more comprehensive. The council as set up included representatives of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Department of Industry and Commerce, and a leading engineer of the Railway Department, who was an authority on factory organisation and layout. These members were co-operating with members of the boot industry to place their problems before the council of the Department with the view of the council appointing experts to help in the solution of the problems of the industry. The Department was assisting the tanners of the Dominion, who were endeavouring'to form an association comprising members of the industry who would contribute a comparatively small amount toward the expense. A research chemist who had 12 years’ experience in England would assist the association when it was formed. The Department was also taking up the question of the improvement of the treatment of pelts and was seeking the co-operation of the freezing companies. If an improvement representing Is to 2s per dozen were affected it would mean a big thing for the Dominion. ‘ The. motion was- agreed to.