SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Engineering Standardization: United Action. 
In 1918 attention was given by the Executive Committee of the 
Advisory Council of Science and Industry to the question of estab- 
lishing in Australia an Engineering Standardization Committee to 
be in direct communication with the British Committee in London, 
‘and to act in an advisory capacity to that Committee, and to 
draw up standard engineering specifications for the Commonwealth. 
After considering the matter, the Executive Committee, with a view 
to focussing attention on the matter and eliciting the support of persons 
interested throughout the Commonwealth, in November, 1918, requested 
each State Committee to invite representative persons in the respective 
States to hold a meeting to discuss the following points :— 
(a) In view of the importance of standardization of engineering materials 
and methods, the desirability that such standardization should be 
considered for Australia as a whole. 
(b) In_view of the fact that great progress has been made in Great 
Britain and the United States of America in such work of 
standardization, the desirability of accepting such standards as 
have already been arrived at, provided they are satisfactory to 
Australian conditions. 
(c) In cases when British and American standards are equally applicable 
to Australia, the desirability of selecting the British standards. 
(d) The desirability of establishing in Australia a representative 
authoritative body to take the matter in hand. 
Meetings in each State have been held, and copies of the report 
of the proceedings have been forwarded to the Executive Committee. 
In New South Wales, three members of the Advisory Council and 
31 engineers, representing various engineering organizations and 
Government Departments, were present. Five resolutions were unani- 
mously passed—the first four being in the terms of the points referred 
for discussion, as specified in paragraphs (a) to (d) above. The fifth 
resolution was as follows :— 
(e) That, in view of the action in Great Britain, where the British 
Engineering Standards Committee was formed in 1901 by repre- 
sentatives from the Institute of Civil Engineers, the Institution of 
Mechanical Engineers, the Institution of Naval Architects, the 
Iron and Steel Institute, and the Institution of Wlectrical 
Wngineers; and, in view of the action of the United States of 
America and other foreign countries, where Standardization Com- 
mittees have. been appointed by.the various engineering institu- 
tions in those countries, it is recommended that the Engineering 
Standards Committee of Australa be appointed by the various 
engineering associations or societies at present existing in Aus- 
tralia, and shall include engineers appointed by the Government 
Departments and Public Utilities, 
This last resolution had been unanimousiy adopted at a preliminary 
meeting of representatives of the New South Wales section of the Elec- 
trical Association of Australia, the University Engineering Society, 
and the Engineering Association of New South Wales. It was pointed 
out during the discussion that the proper body to take the matter in 
hand is now in process of formation, and will be in existence in about 
six months’ time—the Institution of Australian Engineers. 
In Victoria, four members of the Advisory Council and nineteen 
representatives of engineering organizations, Government Departments, 
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