PRE-iDENTS ADDRESS — SECTION B. 31 



"During the earliest stages of the war, the anticipated de- 

 mand for explosives jjrcducts was met by expanding and add- 

 ing to existing factories, a policy which had the advantage 

 that it made possible a rapid increase in the production of 

 explosives without the need to recruit and train new technical 

 staffs. But the limits cf this policy were soon reached, and 

 only when it was decided to erect new and national factories, 

 and an attempt was made to collect from existing factories 

 the necessary technical data and assistance, did it become 

 evident that, due to the extraordinary demands of war, there 

 was — practically throughout the entire country— a regret- 

 table lack of available accurate technical data, and an even 

 greater lack of trained technical men — more particularly 

 chemical engineers 



"The great explosives and chemical companies of the country- 

 were all loyally doing their utmost to meet the call for ex- 

 plosives, and although, at the commencement of things, that 

 natural commercial competitive spirit, which disinclined manu- 

 facturers to allow their trade and plant secrets to become 

 common property, was very much alive, this quickly disap- 

 peared completely, a.nd manufacturers have loyally and eagerly 

 assisted with every means at their disposal. But their technical 

 staffs were already sorely over-taxed, and moreover the scale 

 upon which manufacture had to be faced in the new national 

 factories was so enomious as to be unique, and it was fre- 

 quently necessary to devise entirelv new methods and plant 

 suitable for bulk jjrodu'cticn. 



"FoT the staffing of these vast new jjrojects we had, there- 

 fore, to rely almost entirely upon the young and usually in- 

 experienced chemists of the ccuntry. These young men were 

 full cf Icyalty and enthusiasm, but, in so far as the vast 

 majority were concerned, were entirelv without works experi- 

 ence, whilst they had yet to learn the A. B.C. of administra- 

 tive practice. 



"Therefore, in so far as those of the national factories of 

 which the constructicn and operation were entrusted to me 

 were concerned, it was endeavored from the outset, in order 

 to help cur staffs, so to design and arrange the various items 

 of plant as to make possible accurate daily stocktakes of 

 materials produced and in process, and hj the time these fac- 

 tories were ready to ccmmence operations, a fairly complete 

 set of daily, weekly and monthly report forms was in readi- 

 ness, also a more or less complete system cf accounting. 



"Immediately these factories commenced operations, the 

 lack of trained and experienced staff and operatives made itself 

 felt, and, to ameliorate this condition and develop that 

 exprit tie to)])A without which successful manufacture is an 



