H.—44a

Soap.—An Emergency Standard Specification establishing requirements in relation to laundry soaps, soap-powders, toilet soaps, and sand-soap was completed and issued during the year. This specification cites the relevant provisions of the Regulations under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act, 1908, in respect of toilet and laundry soaps, and supplements these with requirements relating to sampling and testing and, in the case of laundry soap, the sizes of bars. The specification also establishes essential requirements and values in respect of the basic factors which determine the utility and suitability of sand-soap and soap-powder in relation to the various purposes for which they are used. Clothing. Three Emergency Standard Specifications have been completed for Men's Working Garments, Women's Full-length Circular Knit Hosiery, and Leather Dress Gloves. The Specification for Men's Working Garments defines the type of material from which they are to be manufactured and establishes uniform basic measurements for each garment size, thus avoiding variations which cause much inconvenience and loss of service life through inadequate measxirements, or, alternatively, involve ill-fitting and waste of material through excessive measurements in relation to the given sizes. The same basic factors are covered by the specifications for Women's Full-length Circular Knit Hosiery and Leather Dress Gloves. Standard basic measurements in relation to the size designations of other garments are being developed in response to the many representations that have been received from organizations representing consumers and, in particular, from the various women's organizations. It is hoped that it will be found possible to proceed with this work with the full co-operation of the manufacturing and trading interests concerned. Footwear. —The fifteen Emergency Standard Specifications for Footwear have been revised during the year and supplemented by a specification establishing similar requirements relating to the basic factors which determine the quality and utility of men's and women's sandals. Work on the preparation of a specification for infants' footwear below size seven is proceeding. Footwear Lasts. —With the fullest co-operation and assistance of the footwear industry, which is sound evidence of its earnest desire to give the best possible service to the general public, progress has been made in the development of a specification for footwear lasts. This matter is one of vital importance from the point of view of the health and physique of our people, in addition to which illfitting footwear is a source of serious annoyance to parents and others concerned with this problem. Also, from the economic viewpoint, ill-fitting footwear has not the same service life as correctly-fitting footwear. The production of correctly-fitting footwear depends essentially upon the use of an adequate range of lasts which conform to correct, uniform, basic measurements. At present, in the absence of standardization, these basic measurements may, and often do unavoidably, differ as between one manufacturer and another, with the result that shoes designated the same size are not infrequently made to different basic measurements. The Standard Specifications, when completed, will incorporate a sufficient range of lasts, of varying widths in each size, to provide an adequate gradation of these basic measurements in relation to sizes to fit the wide range of differing feet measurements. Household Furniture.—At the instigation of the Rehabilitation authorities, preliminary attention has been given to the formulation of a Standard Specification for household furniture which will provide a basis for the advancing of moneys to returned servicemen as part of the Government's rehabilitation programme. The initial work on this project has proceeded satisfactorily, and it is anticipated that it will be completed early during the ensuing year. The specification will establish minimum requirements in respect of the factors which determine the quality, utility, and suitability of the furniture for the purpose for which it is required, including such factors as the class and grade of timber, upholstery and other materials, features of basic construction such as timber dimensions and methods of jointing, and workmanship and finish. Care is being taken to formulate the specification in a way that will preserve freedom in design, style, and the expression of othqr aesthetic values. Both the workers' and the manufacturers' representatives are fully co-operating in this work, and are displaying a full appreciation of the benefit that will accrue to the industry from the development of a Standard Specification that will enable manufacturers to certify the quality of their products under the segis of the Standard mark. Miscellaneous Commodities. —A Simplified Practice for the Manufacture of Brushware and an Emergency Standard Specification for Flock have been issued. The development of specifications has also been undertaken for other items, including boot-polish, beeswax, starch, bags, and cotton and rayon textiles. STANDARDIZATION AND POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION The work reported herein, together with similar work carried out in previous war years, in addition to having assisted the war effort through conservation of materials, man-power, and plant capacity— thus resulting in better organization of production and distribution —has established a basis that will similarly assist reconstruction in the post-war period. The co-ordination of specifications facilitates the concentration of production and distribution on the fewest types of commodities, consistent with

2—H. 44a

9