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provide the most accessible, authoritative, and precise definition of these factors. The circulation of these drafts, which relate to considerations of public safety, to responsible administrative authorities, technological and other affected interests, therefore acquaints those responsible with the exact nature of material or equipment manufactured overseas for export to this country and whether or not it meets requirements of public safety and other considerations. The foregoing briefly explains the purpose of the work which has been carried out in circulating draft specifications, though the full purpose can be considered only in conjunction with the general purpose of standard specifications of which draft specifications form the genesis. Draft specifications received from the following bodies have been circulated as outlined in the foregoing : — British Standards Institution .. .. .. .. .. .. 193 Standards Association of Australia .. .. .. .. .. 33 South African Standards Institution .. .. .. .. .. 3 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 229 Approximately 2,500 copies of these have been circulated to affected interests and their comments have been co-ordinated and the bodies originating the specifications have been advised that— (a) One hundred and four are suitable for New Zealand requirements ; (b) Three require amendment and the nature of such amendment: (ic) Nine have no application in New Zealand ; (d) Eleven are unsuitable for New Zealand requirements ; (e) Seventy-nine are held in abeyance pending further information ; and in (/) Twenty-three instances decisions are, being withheld until the standards are issued. This work has been carried out under the direction of appropriate committees representative of interests affected by the respective specifications. The work of the committees in this regard is particularized in the section of this report under the heading " Activities of Committees." STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS. Nine hundred and forty three (943) specifications were taken over from the past Standards Institution and comprised— British Standards Institution .. .. .. .. .. 672 Standards Association of Australia .. . . .. ~ 220 South African Standards Institution .. .. .. .. 8 Canadian Engineering Standards Association .. .. .. 43 ■— 943 plus approximately 1,000 additional copies and 1,000 copies of the New Zealand Standard No. 95, Model Building By-law. In addition, further standard specifications which have been issued by these bodies have been made available to this branch since its inception : — British Standards Institution .. .. .. .. ..113 Standards Association of Australia .. .. . . 33 South African Standards Institution .. .. . . .. 2 Canadian Engineering Standards Association .. . . 22 170 1,113 This number represents the complete issue of the standard specifications of these bodies which have been made available, gratis, as part of a reciprocal service between the standards organizations of the British Empire countries. In addition to this, standard specifications have been received from the American Standards Association, American Society of Testing Materials, and United States Bureau of Standards as follows : — American Standards Association .. .. .. .. .. 74 American Society of Testing Materials .. .. .. .. 516 United States Bureau of Standards .. .. .. 14 604 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,717 The standard specifications issued by the standards organizations of British Empire countries have been circulated under the direction of the respective committees to interests affected by their provisions, and their comments have been invited concerning the suitability of the specification for New Zealand conditions and requirements ; and also recommendations as to whether or not they should be adopted as New Zealand standards. Following consideration of the comments received by the respective committees, forty-six British standard specifications were recommended for adoption as New Zealand standards and twenty-six held in abeyance. The publications received from the American Standards Association and the American Society' for Testing Materials and Bureau of Standards have not been circulated as a part of regular procedure. These have been retained within the library as they are extremely valuable for reference purposes and have been freely consulted by committees giving consideration to related projects.

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