TRADE RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 68, 14 December 1944, Page 5

TRADE RESEARCH

Co-operution’s Advantages

Using the New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association as an example, Mr. P. White, dircctoi- of the association, pointed out the advantages of co operative industrial research in an address he delivered on retiring from the office of chairman of the New Zealand section, of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. , , , , Mr. White said that the length to which secrecy had been carried by tradesmen of previous ages had caused to be lost knowledge of processes which would bring success to .many a firm today. The application of. science to the problems of industry had brought about a new. era and instead of the old methods of hit or miss, or trial and error, the new idea of cause and effect had been introduced. The fundamental principles underlying the processes had 'been investigated. It was the solving of day-to-day problems that, had given research its cash value, but the amount of money one iirto might expend on research was limited, and m any case, the information obtained by one firm could not be retained within the walls of its factory, From the economic and financial aspects it seemed reasonable for an industry to pool its resources for research for the benefit of the whole industry. After the establishment of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research offers wPre, made to industries, along (he lines of offers made by the British Government, and the New . Zealand Leather Research Association was 1 formed with a Government subsidy on subscriptions paid on a basis fixed by the members themselves, the committee consisting of three persons appointed by the industrial members and two appointed by the Government. . The main object of a research association was to carry out research on problems which were common to all members, and on. that basis it would seem quite easy to formulate a programme of research, bub difficulties might arise because an individual was a’pt to regard bis difficulties as peculiar to himself. Tic might (be afraid to admit, or pride would not allow him to admit, that he had difficulties. In leather research associations, a .major problem was the determining of what quality in leather was and how it might De quickly measured. The problem, as far as sole leather was concerned, was complicated by the fact that the tanner did not sell direct to the public, and the. standards of quality established by the manufacturers and repairers, based on colour, feel, and how it would “work,” had little relation to its performance Tn wear. Other difficulties of a research association were the presentation of results in a manner that, could be understood by the average worker and the obtaining of the interest nnd confidence of all classes in an industry.

Among the advantages were the solving of day-to-day problems in, the industry and the collection of a fund of information gathered from the solving of problems of members which could be drawn on by other members, thus solving their problems quickly. 'When members of a research association met, financial and economic matters 'might be forgotten, and they became comrades in arms, seeking new weapons to. deal with their daily problems. When confidence in each other was established along the line of the search for knowledge • it extended along many other avenues previously considered impossible; the industry became more efficient, and the better spirit was not confined to the. executives, the workers becoming happier.