H—44a

Marking of Containers. —The Containers Marking Sectional Committee divided its work between two working committees, one dealing with ordinary commercial marking and the other with the marking of dangerous commodities, taking the relevant sections of the British Standard Packaging Code as the basis for their work. Ample evidence has been brought forward by shipowners, workers, and other affected interests, based on actual experience, to establish the danger to life and property which exists in the absence of the proper packing and labelling of poisons, corrosive, inflammable, explosive, and other deleterious substances. In view of the urgent need for some control over this aspect of packaging, a tentative standard code is being formulated consolidating the existing requirements in this respect. It is intended that this should later be followed by a more comprehensive codification of all the requirements which are necessary to> ensure safety in transport. Government Purchasing Standards Committee (Three meetings) Radiators Panel .. .. .. .. .. .. One meeting. General Hardware Panel .. .. .. .. .. One meeting. Ranges Conference .. .. .. .. .. Two meetings. Armed Services Stores Subcommittee .. .. .. One meeting. Parent Committee.—The parent committee has endorsed all existing New Zealand standard specifications as suitable for use in Government purchasing, subject to any variation which may be stipulated to satisfy special needs not specifically provided for therein. In addition, it has directed the work in connection with the formulation of original Government purchasing standard specifications for items for which there are no regular standard specifications. The importance and value of the work of this committee is evidenced by the substantial economies, which the most competent authorities* supported by factual experience, estimate to average from 15 per cent, to 25 per cent.. of total expenditure. Carbon Paper.—A draft standard specification for carbon paper was prepared and circulated to interested parties for comment. Red-lead Paint for Structural Steelwork. —A Government purchasing standard specification for red-lead paint for structural steelwork was recommended for adoption. The specification is based upon the long experience of the Public Works Department, with the use of this class of paint and will ensure that paint conforming to its provisions will provide an adequate and effective protective coating. Electric Radiators. —A special panel set up for the purpose prepared a draft Government purchasing standard specification for electric radiators, which was circulated for comment to affected interests. After consideration of the comments received, which resulted in some amendment of the original provisions, the specification was recommended for issue in the Government purchasing series. Domestic Electric Ranges.—At the request of the Housing Division of the Public Works Department, work proceeded upon the drafting of a Government purchasing standard specification for domestic electric ranges. Preliminary proposals were prepared, in full collaboration with the manufacturing interests, which prescribe minimum requirements relating to dimensions, quality of materials, tests for performance of ovens, in addition to the usual electrical tests for the wiring, elements, and switches, &c. Armed Services Stores. —A subcommittee, set up by the Government Purchasing Standards Committee to prepare standard specifications for non-warlike stores for the Armed Services, decided at its inaugural meeting that it should await the decision of th&

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