A NEW DEPARTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 15 December 1916, Page 28

A NEW DEPARTURE

METALS FOR WAR AND PEACE ' PROPOSED STATE CLEARING HOUSE Sir W. Beardmore, President of the Iron and Steel Institute, Mr. George Beilby, President of the Institute of Metals, Mr., W. Thorneycroft, President of the Institution of Mining Engineers, and Mr. Edgar Taylor, President of tho Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, have written to Sir W. S. M Connick, Chairman of the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, suggesting the establishment of 3t central Department of Minerals and Metals. The letter points out that there are similar well-organised departments in some of the British Dominions, but there'is no coimeoting link or "clearing" house in the Metropolis of ihe Empire. Various departments of the Home Government have , all been concerned with the colleotion of information bearing on the: sources of supply of minerals and the production of metals, 1 but- there does not seem to have been any serious attempt to coordinate and render available this information, and it is certain that there has been considerable overlapping and duplication of effort with correspond' ing waste and confusion. In the opinion of the institutions represented by the signatories, the organisation of a central Department of Minerals and Metal* ,is imperatively necessary in the publio interest, and the work of organisation, which .will necessarily take much time to complete, should bo begun at the earliest possible moment. "It cannot be doubted," the letter proceeds ; "that if a properly organised and efficiently conducted Department of Minerals and Metals had been in existence, much valuable time, many lives, and vast sums of money would havo been saved to the nation in the conduct of the present war, and much of the cost and inconvenience to British industries depending largely for their raw materials on mineral produots would have been saved, with corresponding advantages to the prosecution of the war and to many industries." Tho following are given as among the ( duties of the suggested new Department:— .1. Arrangements for expediting the of mineral surveys or the United kingdom and of the Crown Colonies and other British possessions. 2. The systematic colleotion and coordination of information bearing on the occurrence, uses, and economic value of minerals and their products; special attention being devoted toSecuring industrial applications for newlydisoovered minerals or 'metallurgical' products and to finding mineral materials required for new metallurgical products or inventions. 3. The investigation of all questions and problems relating to the utilisation of the mineral or metallurgical resources of the Empire. 4. The co-ordination and dissemination of .information. (■ 5. A general review from time to time of the developed and undeveloped mineral resources and of the position of each mineral or metal, to ensure is being exploited-with due regard to that the mineral wealth of the Empire Imperial interests. 6. Generally to advise the Imperial Government on all questions bearing on the mining and metallurgical industries. ...