THE WAR EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 116, 19 May 1941, Page 12

THE WAR EFFORT

MANY SUGGESTIONS

Many hundreds of suggestions relating to the three fighting services and also to various phases of New Zealand's war effort had been received from private citizens, said the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) last week, referring to the functions and work of the Inventions Board.

The board was set up by the Government after the outbreak of war to deal with suggestions likely to be of value for defensive and offensive operations. Senior technical officers of the three services, with representatives of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Munitions Controller constitute this board. "Each suggestion is given full consideration," said Mr. Jones, "and if it is considered to have merit immediate action is taken to ensure its use to the greatest advantage possible. Where it is desirable, suggestions are forwarded to the appropriate authorities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. SMALL NUMBER USABLE. "Only a small proportion of the suggestions received are found to be usable," the Minister added. "Many inventions, while sound in themselves, are not novel, and others have been anticipated by similar or more effective devices already in use. Others may relate to obsolete or obsolescent devices which cannot be adapted to modern service equipment. On the other hand, some inventions, though not suitable as they stand, contain ideas which can be adopted by experienced technical officers.

"Practically every suggestion received has been offered freely as a contribution to the war effort, and we appreciate the patriotic spirit which has promped these offers. We welcome these proposals, because in any one of them there may be something of some supreme importance."

Consideration of inventions was expedited, said Mr. Jones, if full details, with any drawings or sketches, were forwarded direct to the secretary, Inventions Board, c/o Army Headquarters, Wellington, but duplicates should be retained by the inventor. The'communication of any invention to the board would not prejudice the grant of a valid patent. If desired application for letters patent could be filed and the board could enter into negotiations for a secret catent.