FIRST MEETING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 2

FIRST MEETING

Standards Institute Gets Under Way ■ PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY . ■ Recently taken over by the Government as a branch of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the advisory council of the New Zealand Standards Institute met in Wellington yesterday for the first time. The standards organisation in this Dominion was inaugurated in 1931 under the title of the New Zealand Standards Institution, but this body was dissolved last month when the Government assumed responsibility and renamed it the New Zealand Standards Institute. The chairman, Mr. A. R. Galbraith. Christchurch city engineer, presided yesterday, and the foUowing members attended : Mr. G. A. Pascoe, council, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Dr. W. B. Sutch, consumer interests; Mr. F. B. Stephens, Internal Affairs Department, local government; Mr. W. L. Newnham, Public Works Department; Mr. E. T. Spidy, New Zealand Railways Department; Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, primary producing interests; Dr. E. Mareden, secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Mr. L. J. Schmitt, Department of Industries and Commerce; Mr. J. T. Spiers, New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation; Mr. J. Read, Tradee and Labour Council; Mr. W. Donovan. Dominion analyst; Mr. G. A. Lawrence, New Zealand Institute of Chemistry; Mr. H. C. Norton, New Zealand Institute of Architects; Mr. Wylee, electrical; Mr. F. Wilton, Store? Control Board. In nie address Mr. Galbraith dealt with standardisation and industry in an interesting manner, making an explanation of the way in which standardisation operates for the benefit of both manufacturer and consumer. Referring to the adoption of standardisation in practice, he stressed the fact that it should be adopted voluntarily if it was to be really effective. Mention was also made by him of progress made with standardisation in Britain, America and Australia, and he stated that it was only when simplification was effected on a national scale that the real benefit was experienced. Sacks and Wool Paclis.

Preliminary activities of the institute since it was taken over by the Government were dealt with by the secretary in a report. Arising out of representations received from various sources, the report stated, mainly through the Department of Industries and Commerce, considerable attention had been given to the promulgation of standards for produce sacks and wool packs. Not less than 12 useful preliminary interviews had taken place between the woolbrokers and produce merchants. A representative of the harbour board and the president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr. W. W. Mulholland, had also been interviewed. The condensed report of these interviews covered 47 pages of typed matter, which contained information that would materially assist further negotiations apd consideration. Contact had also been made with the shipping interests and the transport agencies, though this aspect of the work was still incomplete. It remained yet to see the manure manufacturers, some of the Farmers’ Union provincial executives, flourmillers, and other interests.

Research work in relation to weave, strength of fibre, and so on would be carried out, and upon completion it should be possible to diaw up a proposed specification for submission to the affected interests, resulting, it was hoped, in a standard specification for sacks and wool packs before next season’s operations commenced, at least so far as the former were concerned.