IMPERIAL INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2400, 4 March 1915, Page 7

IMPERIAL INSTITUTE

INCREASED ACTIVITIES RESEARCHES AND ASSAYS FOR PRIVATE FIRMS It was announced recently in. the telegrams from London that there was a proposal afoot to extend the sphere of operations of the Imperial Institute to include. the carrying out of investigations, researches, assays, etc.,. on behalf of private firms or individuals throughout the Empire. : Particulars have now been receiyed from the Colonial Office of the proposal, which has definitely been put into operation, and it is desired that as full publicity as possible be given to the matter for the benefit of the institute's services. ' , ' ■ . The following information has been furnished as to tie extension of the institute's activities. It will under-, take in future, for an appropriate feo, researches, investigations, analyses, etc., required by private individuals and firms either in the United Kingdom or in any of the British Dominions. It will be left to the authorities of the institute to decide in the case of each application whether or not the request for researches, etc., is one with 1 which the Imperial Institute can properly comply. Any reports which may be supplied under this arrangement will become the property of those who pay for them, and will not be communicated either by the Imperial Institute or by any Government to ' other persons or published without the consent of those concerned.

As it is undesirable that the Imperial Institute should compete with the professional expert, it is proposed that only special investigations, etc., should be undertaken, i.e., on subjects of a technical character with which the Imperial Institute is exceptionally qualified to deal, especially those relating to the production and utilisation of materials which occur in the British Empire, or which might be introduced into British countries and are considered likely to be of value to British commerce or trade. The. following are mentioned as some of the more important matters with which the institute is in a special , position to deal:— (a) Investigations as to the value of new or little-known raw materials for commercial purposes. (b) Chemical analyses, assays and valuations of raw materials- such as fibres; rubbers, oil-seeds, waxes, foodstuffs, tanning materials, essential and fixed oils, gums, resins, drugs, tobaccos, soils, minerals, ores, waters, fuels, etc. _ (c) The technical testing of rubber, timbers, cotton, fibres, cements, and other materials. (d) Identification of vegetable and mineral substances.. ■ The managing committee of the institute are not prepared at present to suggest any actual scale of fees which could meet the variety of. cases which arc likely to occur. Tho feo must be arranged between the institute and tho individuals .or firms who require investigations to be made. The matter will bo in the hands of the director, who will from time to time report Co the managing committee th© feo proposed in any special oase in which this cannot be deterniined by.ordinary practice. In bringing tho matter before tho public of Now Zealand it is perhaps necessary to point out that this development of the work of t.lio institute is not inteudad to supersedo tho furnishing of information by local'official or other organisations set up here to investigate our own peculiar problems, notably by the Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce. Before applying to the institute it should he considered whether information does not exist in New Zealand or whether the matter is one requiring the special facilities offered by the institute and therefore o.ns proper],T r?fsr»b)« to th.it ibody.