WAR INVENTIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20822, 29 June 1942, Page 3

WAR INVENTIONS

FLOOD OF SUGGESTIONS AUSTRALIAN IDEAS T (9.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 29. Since the appearance of Japanese midget submarines in Sydney harbimr, there has been a flood of suggestions for submarine detectors and harbour defence devices, said an officer of the army invention directorate. Some of them looked promising, he said. Emphasising that a worth-while invention put forward now and properly handled might mean the difference between victory and defeat, the officer said that many more ideas were required. The inventions the directorate was receiving • were about 150 ideas weekly. Many good suggestions were being acted upon. One found a successful way of applying oaint to canvas, and it was being used to good effect in camouflage work. An invention now under test c}ealt with an entirely new method of ship propulsion, and there were several ideas for perfection predictors and control of anti-aircraft fire generally. A Sydney man claimed to be able to detect the presence of submarines, giving their direction and distance, and, so far, he had not been proved wrong. A'ty Many refugees had submitted idek's". A Hungarian had given excellent advice on the treatment of textiles for aircraft work and medical use, and a Czech had invented a new type of machinery nut for assembly work. The directorate was interested ;in plastics, which were coming in for closer attention from scientists, and there was deep interest in the possibility of developing rubber substitutes. While considerable attention was being given to plants of the poinsettia family for that purpose, the Commonwealth Government was having a survey made of native vegetation that promised better results.