SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Bureau of Information. 
RCL OP? 
SERVES A USEFUL PURPOSE. 
In the original report of the Conference convened by the Prime 
Minister in January, 1916, when the scheme for establishing a Common- 
wealth Institute of Science and Industry was first definitely launched, 
a recommendation was made that until the permanent Institute is estab- 
lished an Advisory Council should be appointed particularly to carry 
out two specific objects, one of which is as follows :— 
“The collection of industrial scientific information, and the founda- 
tion of a bureau for its dissemination amongst those engaged in 
industry.” 
As a first step in the direction of creating the Bureau of Informa- 
tion, a Science Abstractor was appointed in July, 1916, who, though 
primarily engaged in preparing reports and abstracts for the immediate 
use of the executive committee, devoted his remaining time to compiling 
a card index of information likely to be useful in the work of the Bureau. 
With the very limited staff available, the progress made in this work was 
necessarily somewhat slow. Moreover, until the Institute recently moved 
into its new offices, no proper provision could be made for shelving 
accommodation for the books and reports which had been collected and 
indexed. Suitable accommodation has, however, now been provided, and 
a Librarian and Cataloguer have been appointed, the former as a joint 
_ officer of the Institute of Science and Industry and the Bureau of Com- 
merce and Industry. The nucleus of a scientific and technical library 
has now been established, some 2,500 books having been indexed and 
catalogued, in addition to hundreds of pamphlets and bulletins. 
Towards the end of March last an announcement was made by the 
Minister for Trade and Customs (the Hon. W. Massy Greene) to the 
effect that the necessary preliminary work in establishing the Bureau 
of Information on a small scale had been completed, and that the Insti- 
tute was prepared to receive from manufacturers and persons engaged in 
primary industries requests for information and advice on scientific 
and technical questions. Since that date a large number of requests for 
information on a wide variety of subjects has been received and 
answered. Among them the following may be specially mentioned :— 
Subject. Information or Advice Desired. 
SPEAR GRASS TREE 7 .. | Specimen sent for identification and information as to utiliza~ 
(Xanthorrhea hastilis) tion for fibre or paper-pulping purposes 
DOLOMITE at ont .. | Methods of preparing and using ground burnt dolomite for 
- lining cupola furnaces 
WOOLLEN MILLS os: .. | Machinery required for woollen mills, with estimates of cost 
IRON MOULDERS’ SAND.. .. | Possibility of obtaining suitable sand from deposits in the 
| vicinity of Shepparton, Victoria 
SALT La fs oa .. | Technology of processes for manufacture 
ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY .. | Bibliography 
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