WATERPROOF MATCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 270, 15 November 1945, Page 8

WATERPROOF MATCH

PRODUCTION BY N.Z. USE IN PACIFIC BY THE SERVICES (P.A.) Wellington, Nov. 12. The claim has been made that American chemists have produced a waterproof match which lights when wet, and that, for a year and a-half, it was kept a military secret. Such a match was produced early in 1945 by the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Re-, search, for use by the Dominion forces in the Pacific. ’‘At that time much research and industrial development, work was being put into the production of a compact. lightweight individual ration for tropical use,” said Mr. L. W. Tiller, who carried out lhe experiments into the “amphibous match." He added that the work was in the hands ot specialists of the Army and Air Force, and of the department, and many manufacturing firms, from Auckland to Dunedin, ’gave invaluable assisttance on specific problems. Tobacco and matches were included in the ration, and it was realised that, under jungle conditions, it was essential that matches should remain unaffected by the high tropical humidity and immersion in water. At that time no force in the Pacific had waterproof matche’.

After a series of experiments, Mr. Tiller was able to produce a match that called forth the highest commendation from officials of the United States Joint Purchasing Board. He placed some of the matches for some time in a glass of water before an interviewer, and had no difficulty in lighting them afterwards. The matches could remain immersed for several hours with no bad effect Mr. Tiller said.