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methods. Pending the adoption of international standards, necessarily a long-range project, the Committee has carried on its work on the proposed New Zealand standard specification, which is based on Canadian and Australian standard methods. Underwear Sizes. —In response to continued representations from the National Council of Women, the Dominion Federation of Women's Institutes, the Women's Division of the Federated Farmers, and the Retailers' Federation, further attention has been given to this subject. With the co-operation of the Manufacturers' Federation, an Underwear Sizes Committee was instituted, and at two meetings has considered proposed sizes based upon the corresponding British standards. The manufacturing representatives on the committee undertook to afford generous assistance by obtaining manufacturers' measurements, through the respective trade groups, and to collaborate in the examination of such data, in relation to data available from other countries, including Britain, U.S.A., and France, for the purpose of formulating provisions of a suitable New Zealand specification. Household Tinware Utensils Committee (One meeting) Household Tinware Utensils. —The standard specification for household tinware utensils, referred to in the last report, has been issued, establishing minimum requirements for eight classes of tinplate and galvanized-iron household utensils, including' cooking-utensils, kitchen tidies, ashpans, milk-billies, strainers, calf-feeders, colanders, watering-cans, meat-safes, and babies' baths. The specification consists of a series of tables setting out in a handy form for reference the particulars of the construction, gauge of metal, reinforcement, dimensions and capacity for each item in its appropriate class, the terms used having been defined in a preliminary section. Utensils bearing the Standard Mark as a certification of conformance to the specification will thus carry a warranty that they are made from sheet metal of adequate gauge, and are so constructed as to be sufficiently durable to avoid the necessity for unduly frequent replacement, an important economic consideration both to householders and the country generally. Pressed Steel Enamelware. —A Pressed Steel Household Utensils Committee has been established to prepare standard specifications for pressed steel frying-pans, and enamel hollowware such as kitchen sinks, pie-dishes, and saucepans, which will include provisions relating to dimensions and capacities, nature and thickness of the base metal, quality of the enamel coating, method of attachment of handles, and other essential factors. Mincers, Bean-slicers, and Juice-extractors. —A committee has been set up to deal with a request for the preparation of standard specifications for mincers, bean-slicers, and juice-extractors for domestic use. To obtain data for preliminary proposals a detailed technical study has been made comparing British, American, and locally manufactured appliances in relation to performance, essential design features, construction and finish. Again in this case the manufacturing interests concerned have displayed commendable initiative and interest in the development of this specification as warranty of service and satisfaction to the public. Carpet Sweepers Committee (One meeting) The Carpet Sweepers Committee has recommended a draft standard specification for carpet sweepers for circulation to the affected interests for examination and comment. The draft specification lays down minimum requirements for the materials, component parts, and construction of carpet sweepers, allowing the use of several alternative types of material and construction.

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