WORK DONE FOR INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27091, 14 July 1953, Page 6

WORK DONE FOR INDUSTRY

CANTERBURY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT VALUE ALMOST DOUBLED The Canterbury College Industrial Development Department almost doubled its work for industry in the last year, and since 1950 the value of these services has increased fourfold. This marked improvement was noted with satisfaction at the annual meeting of the department’s advisory committee, whose members are representatives of Canterbury University College, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. A year ago the future of the department was threatened by a low return from commercial undertakings. Since then manufacturers have become better acquainted with the wide variety of development services offered, and many have now given research and engineering projects to the department. Specialised services to departments of the Government and Canterbury University College have been well maintained. The chairman (Mr F. C. Penfold) said he was gratified by the increased support from industry. As a member of the Transport Board he knew the value of work by the department in the non-destructive testing of axles and other key parts of public vehicles by supersonic, dye-penetrant, and magnetic-particle methods. The Professor of Physics at Canterbury University College (Dr. F C. Chalklin). who is acknowledged as the leading British authority on soft Xrays, said the department’s production of adjustable slit apparatus for soft X-ray spectroscopy had permitted work which had aroused considerable interest overseas. The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University at Canberra (Dr. M. L. Oliphant) wrote thanking the department for building four electrical stimulating and recording units for nerve cell research. Professor J. C. Eccles, he said, classed them as “some of the most up-to-date and efficient electrical equipment used in any physiological laboratory in the world.” They were of the finest workmanship.

The director of the department (Mr T. R. Pollard) reviewed work undertaken during the year, much of which has been previously reported. An electronic control had been developed to adjust the level of anhydrous ammonia in a pressure vessel, and this was proving very effective, he said. The Rabbit Destruction Council had made a grant for a small programme of research on the toxic properties of carbon monoxide and other gases for rabbit killing. The last of four metereological radar units made for the Civil Aviation branch of the Air Department would be installed at Harewood for the London-Christ-church air race.

The new Secretary of the Department of Scientfic and Industrial Research (Dr. W. M. Hamilton) was welcomed to the meeting. The committee recorded appreciation of the assistance of his predecessor (Mr F. R. Callaghan) in launching the department and his co-operation over the last five years.