WOOLLEN GOODS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1938, Page 11

WOOLLEN GOODS

RESEARCH PLAN

TO IMPROVE FACTORY

PRODUCTS

Research work carried on at the Otago University, Dunedin, came under review at a meeting last week of the New Zealand Wool Manufacturers' Research Association, under the chairmanship of Mr. James Evans. The Research Association, which is a cooperative effort, financed jointly by the wool manufacturers of New Zealand and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, was formed nine months ago. Research work is carried on in the chemistry department of the university, under Professor F. G. Soper, who is director, of the Research Association, and in the bacteriology department, under Professor C. E. Hercus.

Members visited these departments, and witnessed work in progress on the investigations of conditions leading to the bacterial attack of such woollen garments as singlets and bathing gowns, and its prevention. It is understood that experiments are being made in the chemistry department on the treatment of wool to render it unshrinkable. Members were also interested in the routine methods of analysis, designed to afford more ! vigorous control of the various stages of manufacture, and in the use of new scientific methods, such-as ultra-violet light, in analytical textile work. RESEARCH IN UNIVERSITIES. The association of such work with the Otago University is regarded as i highly satisfactory, both to the uni-J versity and to the wool manufacturers. The director points out that, in England, the universities are regarded, not only as training institutions for students, but as centres of research, having special relation to the needs of the areas in which they are situated. The concentration of research into the universities is an inspiration to students, and an economy in administration. Apart from the university staff who are assisting in the work, the Research Association personnel consists of Mr. Peryman, M.Sc, research chemist, and of Miss Davies, M.H.Sc, secretary. An appointment of Dr. Sydney Townend, of Leeds, has recently been made. Dr. Townend has had research experience of wool manufacturing problems both in America and England. He is expected to arrive in New Zealand in September. Before leaving England, Dr. Townend is visiting France, Belgium, and Poland, where certain improvements in wool machinery have been made, on which he will be able to report on arrival. Professor Soper gave a brief account of the work so far carried out, and future lines of work were discussed. Mr. Peryman, research chemist, had, so far, concentrated on a study of the wool washing process, and had just completed a round of visits to mills where he had made detailed and profitable studies of this process. Monthly, bulletins, summarising information appearing in the scientific literature of various countries, were being distributed to members, thus ensuring that New Zealand manufacturing methods were as up to date as those in operation elsewhere. Summaries of work on unshrinkable wool, wool scouring, prevention of attack of wool by bacteria, and by moths had already appeared.