WAR INVENTIONS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 29 April 1941, Page 3

WAR INVENTIONS

INADEQUATE TESTS ALLEGED

(F.0.0.C.) SYDNEY, April 24 Charges that the testing of valuable Australian war inventions is being held up because the Military Inventions Board is inadequate are to be investigated by the Minister for the Army, Mr Spender. There is only one officer in Sydney to interview hundreds of inventors who are making scientific and engineering suggestions to the Army. It is suggested that a staff of scientific and engineering experts, similar to that in England, should be made available to assist inventors to make models of their inventions. Several months ago a Sydney engineer submitted to military authorities a scheme for use in case of an invasion. Impressed with the possibilities of the scheme, the inventions officer told the engineer to make a working model of his invention so_ that It could be demonstrated to higher authorities. The engineer said he had no time to do this, and the invention has not been considered since he first proposed it. . The one officer has to interview cranks, as well as intelligent scientists and engineers whose inventions are worth while. Recently, a man called on the inventions officer, and said: “I have a secret invention here which I must let. you have;” It took the «nan an hour to rig up the apparatus, with detailed descriptions of the component parts.' Then he said: “It’s a wonderful scheme for fowls to drink out of,” |