IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15218, 4 March 1915, Page 5

IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

SPHERE OF USEFULNESS EXTENDED.

AN IMPORTANT SCHEME. (FRSSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 3. The Department of Industries and Commerce states that particulars are now to hand from the Colonial Office concerning tho proposal to extend the sphere of operations of the Imperial Institute, to include the carrying out of investigations, researches, assays, etc., on behalf of private firms and individuals throughout the Empire. The proposal has now been put into, operation, and i.t ie desired thai as full publicity as is possible should be given to the matter for the benefit of persons likely to take advantage of the Institute's services.

Briefly, the Institute is prepared to investigate the possible technical uses of new or little-known materials of all kinds, and the value of known materials from new sources. In this connexion it not only carries out laboratory research, but also obtains information from all known sources on the subject, correlating and revising it, and making it available for the enquirer. If necessary, an actual .test of the material -will be arranged with Borne manufacturer. Problems confronting agriculture and the production of various ra«—TLiaterials in different parts of the Empire will also be investigated, mid advice ijiven, a bureau of technical information has been set up to deal wit.li enquiries for technical information from manufacturers, merchants, and producers, e.g., enquiries relating to the beet means, of extracting some valuable product from.plants, etc. It will be left to the authorities of the Institute to decide, in the case of each application, whether or no the request for research is ono with which the Institute can properly comply. Tho reports supplied under this arrangement become the property of those who pay for them, and will not be communicated either by the Institute or any Government to any other person, or published without the consent of those concerned, as it is undesirable that tho Institute should rompeto with tho professional expert. It is proposed that only special investigations, etc., should be taken, i.e., on subjects of a technical character, with which the Institute is exceptionally I qualified to deal, especially those relating to the production and utilisation of materials which occur in the British Empire, or which might be introduced into British countries. • and are considered likely to be of value to British I commorce or trade.

The following are. mentioned ns some of the more important matters with which the Institute is in a special position to deal: — (1) Investigations as to the value of new or little-known raw materials for commercial purposes. (2) Chemical analyses, assays, and valuations of raw materials, such as fibres, rubbers, oil seeds, waxes, foodstuffs, tanning materials, essential and fixed oils, gums, resins, drugs, tobaccos, soils, minerals, ores, waters, and fuels. '~.!.■ (3) The technical testing of rubber, timbers, cotton fibres, cements, and other materials. (4) The identification of vegetable and mineral substances. ,

The Managing Committee is not pre- ( pared nt present to suggest an actual scale of fees which could meet the variety of cases likely to occur. The fee must lie arranged between the Institute and the individuals or firms who require investigations made. The matter will be in the hands of a- director, who will; fro->i time to time, report to the Managing Committee, the fee proposed .••in*''atiy special case in which this cannot be determined by ordinary practico. V . •

This development of the work of the* Institute is not intended to supersede tl'n furnishing of information by local officials or other organisations set up hero to investigate our own tiroblems, notably by th« Dcnartment of Agrioulture, Industries, and Commerce. 'Bβ-•fore-Apnlyinx: .to the : Institute, it should be considered whether the information does not, exist in New Zealand; or whether the'matter.is one ren fiuirinw.' +be specinl fac'li+ieq offered by the Institute, and therefore, one properly referable to that body.