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NEW ZEALAND STANDARDS INSTITUTE. ANNUAL REPORT, 1936-37. The New Zealand Standards Institution was reconstituted within this Department during the past year and its designation changed to New Zealand Standards Institute. An Advisory Counci consisting of the following persons was appointed : — Mr A R Galbraith, F.R.S. (Edin.), M.lnst,C.E. (Chairman), Municipal Associations. Dr. E. Marsden, M.C., C.8.E., D.Sc., F.R.S.N.Z., Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. G. W. Wyles, A.M.1.E.E., M.1.R.5.E., Electrical Regulations Advisory Committee. Mr. W. A. Joiner, M.Sc., A.1.C., representing Research Council of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. S. S. Millington, Stores Control Board. Mr. H. C. Morton, A.R.1.8.A., A.N.Z.1.A., Institute of Architects. Mr. F. W. Furkert, C.M.G., M.lnst.C.E., M.l.Mech.E., New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers. Mr. G. A. Lawrence, B.Sc., F.1.C., New Zealand Institute of Chemistry. Mr. W. Donovan, M.Sc., F.1.C., Dominion Laboratory. Mr. J. Read, Trades and Labour Council. Mr. L. J. Schmitt, Department of Industries and Commerce. Mr. F. B. Stephens, M.A., 8.C0m., Department of Internal Affairs. Mr. W. L. Newnham, A.M.1.C.E., M.N.Z.lnst.Eng., Public Works Department. Mr. E. T. Spidy, A.M.S.C.E., Railways Department. Mr. W. W. Mulholland, primary producers' interests. Mr. A. Fletcher, Building Divisional Committee. Dr. W. B. Sutch, Ph.D., M.A., 8.C0m., consumer interests. Mr. G. A. Pascoe, consumer interests. . . Mr. F. T. M. Kissell, B.Sc., Eng., M.1.E.E., A.M.Inst.C.E., Chief Electrical Engineer, Hydro-electric Branch, Public Works Department. _ Mr. E. H. Langford, M.A., Private Secretary to Hon. Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. L. J. McDonald, Secretary and Executive Officer. This body, in its advisory capacity, became responsible for the organization and administration of standards activity on the 19th August, 1936, and since then there has been highly satisfactory development of this work. .... ~ , Consequent upon this development the Dominion is now contributing its quota to tiie reciprocal collaboration of all units of the British Empire and other important countries. This collaboration is a necessary prerequisite to the development of standards from which the Dominion has derive benefit throughout past years, disproportionate to the negligible contribution it has made. lhe progress that has been macle during the past year establishes a basis for greater development of standardization in the future on a scale that will yield correspondingly increased benefits to the Dominion. . The Advisory Council has met six times and has appointed twenty-one committees. Close contact has been established and maintained with the British Standards Institution, Standards Association of Australia, Canadian Engineering Standards Association, South African Standards Institution, American Standards Association, American Society of Testing Materials, and the United States of America Bureau of Standards. DRAFT STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS. Under a standing arrangement, which is necessary to render the work of each standards organization within the Empire most effective, duplicate copies of all draft standard specifications prepared by these bodies have been submitted for the comments of the New Zealand Standards Institute. The vast majority of these proposed specifications have related to equipment, processes, or commodities used in the Dominion, either manufactured here or purchased overseas. Under the direction of the various committees this matter has been circulated to competent and affected interests for comment, which subsequently has been co-ordinated and considered by the appropriate committees, and the respective overseas bodies have been advised whether the proposed provisions were suitable for the requirements of this Dominion. When they have not been suitable overseas manufacturers have been so advised, and when it has been possible to do so, amendments have been suggested which would make these provisions suitable to New Zealand requirements. This aspect of the activity is very important in that the proposed specifications that have been so examined contain provisions which finally determine the quality and suitability of equipment anc processes used by our local industries upon which their efficiency and the quality and utility of tfieir goods and services depend. Some classes of equipment used in the Dominion are supplied in part by local manufacturers and. in part by overseas manufacturers. The need for uniformity of type, design, or quality in some instances requires that any change in the imported supply may compel adjustments in the corresponding equipment manufactured locally, necessitating changes in plant, process, or organization and thus imposing substantial disabilities upon our manufacturers without affording any corresponding advantage to other sections of the community. The circulation of the specifications covering such material to local manufacturers safeguards their interests in this respect proportionate to the range of equipment covered by specifications so circulated. The consideration of public safety is also advanced by this procedure, for it is substantially dependent upon the use of materials of adequate strength most suitable and efficient in design and construction. The proposed standard specifications

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