H.—44a.

Committees. Nine new committees were instituted to investigate and prepare standard specifications during the period, and these, together with the committees in existence at the commencement, minus those disbanded, bring the aggregate to fifty-nine. The activities of the committees are reviewed in detail later in this report: — Number of committees in existence at Slst March, 1939 .. .. ..64 Less committees disbanded during the year .. .. .. .. 14 50 Plus new committees instituted .. .. .. . ■ 9 Total at 31st March, 1940 .. .. .. .. 59 The personnel of the committees, with the names of the interests represented, is given in Appendix I to this report, and due acknowledgment is here made of the contribution to the advancemeat of the industrial and economic welfare of the Dominion by these members, who gratuitously give their services in the preparation of authoritative standards for the guidance of those engaged in the practice of every form of industry. Meetings. In addition to the three Council meetings, there were 108 meetings of the various committees, making the aggregate number for the year 111. New Zealand Standard Specifications. Ninety-one New Zealand Standard Specifications were promulgated during the period, bringing the total number of New Zealand Standards in force to 280. In addition, in order that the specifications may not become static and fail to take cognizance of industrial and scientific progress, eighteen standards were revised. Work in progress at the end of the year is represented by fifteen draft New Zealand Standard Specifications under circulation to affected parties for comment and by the thirty-three projects in the course of investigation but not yet in the draft stage. Of the ninety-one New Zealand Standards issued, eighty-two of these ? are • British Standards which have been examined and adopted, in some cases with amendment, as New Zealand Standards. In the majority of instances these are basic engineering standards, and their adoption and subsequent promulgation will exercise an influence on industry in stimulating a move for greater precision and uniformity in production. As distinct from the British Standard Specifications adopted as New Zealand Standards, there were nine specifications originated by this ofiice : — N.Z.S.S. 95 New Zealand Standard Code of Building By-laws. Parts I-IV: Basic Requirements for Building Construction. Parts V-VI: Reinforced and Plain Concrete Construction and Panel Walls in Framed Structures. 181p Provisional New Zealand Standard Code of Clauses for Town Planning Schemes. 198 Plugs and Sockets of the Flat Pin Type for Use on 10-ampere, 250-volt Circuits. 245 Water Closet Flushing Cisterns. 246 Portable Fire Extinguishers of the Soda Acid Type. 247 Solutions and Methods for the Estimation of Acidity in Cream, Milk, and Whey. 274 Pollard. 282 Asbestos Cement Unreinforced Flat Sheets and Corrugated Sheets. 284 Dimensions and Workmanship of Asbestos Cement Spigot and Socket Rainwater Pipes, Gutters, Spoutings, and Fittings. The issue of another Index to our Standards was undertaken during the year, and some five thousand copies were made available to interested parties within the Dominion and overseas, in order that there should be a fuller acquaintance with the activity, and that there should be in existence a publication to which continual reference could be made. Through the courtesy of trade and technical journals in this country there has also been a constant reference to the issue of British and Now Zealand Standards in an endeavour to ensure that the parties have access to them and obtain the advantages which prompted their development. Sales op Standard Specifications. Sales of New Zealand Standard Specifications reached a total of 2,972 copies, with a value of £357 3s. 9d. . . Sales of British Standard Specifications, made as agents of the British Standards Institution, amounted to 2,244 copies, with a value of £308 2s. Sales of Australian Standard Specifications reached a total of 106 copies, with a value of £8 17s.

Total Sales of Specifications.

3

Mod ' | M gsy 1 t —■ £ s. d. 1937-38 .. •• •• 1,444 201 14 9 1938-39 .. . • • • 4,791 450 13 6 1939-40 .. •• 5 >322 674 2 9