H—44a

Roadmaking Materials and Methods Sectional Committee Road-binding Materials Committee .. .. .. .. One meeting. Road Materials Testing Committee .. .. .. .. One meeting. Glossary of Highway Engineering Terms.—The first project in the programme of work relating to standard specifications in respect of roadmaking was the formulation of a standard glossary of highway engineering terms which would eliminate the confusion and conflict which arise from the use of different terms to express the same meaning and, conversely, when various meanings are ascribed to the same term. Each of the working committees is to formulate definitions relating to the terms coming, within its particular scope, the completed draft then to be reviewed by the parent committee. During the year, the drafting of the sections relating to materials, properties and tests was completed by the two committees concerned. Road Traffic Sectional Committee (Three meetings) Road Traffic Control Signals.—This committee completed its review of the proposed standard code of practice for road traffic control signals formulated before the war emergency, which caused its promulgation to be withheld. Local authorities responsible for the installation, maintenance, and operation of these signals will welcome the issue of the standard code, which establishes a standard practice for the use of light signals, for the control and regulation of traffic, including a statement of the conditions which warrant light signals and the principles which should govern their location and design. Drivers of motor-vehicles and pedestrians will also be greatly assisted by the uniformity of practice now established. Mechanical Sectional Committee (Eight meetings) Fire-extinguishers Committee .. .. .. .. Three meetings. Parent Committee.—This committee reviewed the work being carried out under its control and, in addition, examined 124 draft British standards, 106 British standards, 1 draft Australian standard, 5 Australian standards, 2 American standards, 9 British Service specifications, and 77 amendments to overseas specifications which had previously been considered by the committee. Twenty-seven of the British standards were recommended for adoption as New Zealand standard specifications, and 51 amendment slips were recommended for incorporation in the corresponding New Zealand standard specifications. The committee also gave consideration to 2 projects of the International Organization for Standardization relating to the construction of boilers and identification colours for gas cylinders. Fire-extinguishers.—The Fire-extinguishers Committee gave further consideration tothe adoption of New Zealand standard specifications for new types of fire-extinguishers, evolved during the war. In addition to the gas-pressure-operated type of carbontetrachloride extinguisher which has been provided for as recorded in the last report,, further consideration was given to a British standard for the gas/water pressure type, but its adoption was deferred pending further investigations concerning the corrosionresisting properties of steel bodies and the reliability of welded seams. The committee also gave attention to the air/foam and methyl-bromide types of extinguishers, but decided that sufficient information and technical data was not available to warrant the formulation of sound standard specifications.

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