846 SEPORTS ox THE STATE OP SClExXCE. 



voluutarily undertaken by the British Association, has now become 0n6 

 of the standards of the Empire. 



With a view of introducing standardisation in its most efficient and 

 stable form tlie Committee have decided to establish at the National 

 Physical Laboratory at Bushy a series of gauges and templates to which 

 all the templates throughout the country can be referred, and from time 

 to time checked. Thus they have already created a standard series of 

 templates for bull-headed and Hat- bottomed railway rails, tramway rails, 

 and pipe flanges, and are hoping to add at no very distant date standard 

 gauges for screws, both with the ordinary Whitworth pitch and the liner 

 pitch referred to above. All these standards are made with the greatest 

 possible accuracy, and are most carefully verified by measuring instru- 

 ments at the laboratory before acceptance. 



Mention might also be made of the research work which the National 

 Physical Laboratory have accomplished at the retjuest of the Sectional 

 Committee on Electrical Plant, with regard to insulating materials 

 generally, the temperature rise in the field coils of electrical machinery, 

 and the efficiency of glow-lamps. 



Owing to continuity of existence, we have now in the British Engineer- 

 ing (Standards Committee a body to whom engineers and manufacturers 

 can refer when they desire that subjects for standardisation should receive 

 consideration. Tt is also distinctly representative, drawing its Members 

 from all parts of the kingdom, and from every section of those affected. 



Though less apparent at first sight, perhaps one of the main advantages 

 ■of the appointment of the Standards Committee has been the fact that it 

 has provided an impartial tribunal of a very high technical order, where 

 conflicting interests, often of large importance and involving consider- 

 able financial considerations, can be thoroughly and amicably discussed. 

 The accredited representatives of the various industries are certain of 

 ■obtaining a patient hearing, and where divergent interests have to be 

 reconciled, of arriving at a compromise best suited to meet the needs of 

 both parties concerned. 



A fact which I should like to touch upon before closing is the willing 

 and gratuitous services rendered by the gentlemen of the highest position 

 in their various professions and trades, who serve with the greatest zeal 

 and self-devotion on the various Sectional Committees and Sub-Committees. 

 To attend the Meetings of the Committees they frequently have to travel 

 long distances, and devote very nmch time, entirely at their own charges. 

 I desire to bear testimony here to the invaluable services so ungrudgingly 

 rendered in the interest of Standardisation by those serving on the various 

 Committees. 



It is impossible, of course, within the limits of this short paper to do 

 more than roughly indicate the extent of the Connnittcc's operations, but 

 sufficient has, I think, been said to justify the initiation and existence 

 of the Committee by the growth of the demands made upon it, and the 

 advantage which it has been able to confer upon those for whom its 

 findings have been drafted. 



Considering the short time which has elapsed since the issue of the 

 first Standard Sections and Specification, the success of the movement 

 'has been most marked and beneficial. It may be confidently predicted 

 that the future eflTcct of the movement will be greatly to the benefit of the 

 nation. 



