H—44a

Special Breads. —The Bread Approvals Committee continued to examine applications for the approval of special breads in terms of the standard specification for bread, and to grant approvals in appropriate cases subject to conditions which would ensure that the breads concerned were in fact substantially different from ordinary bread and were baked in loaves of suitable weights. PRIMARY INDUSTRY STANDARDS Spray-pumps Committee .. .. .. .. .. Two meetings. Milk Bottles Committee .. .. .. .. .. One meeting. Butchers' Knives Committee .. .. .. .. One meeting. Cow Covers Committee .. .. .. .. .. One meeting. Spray-pumps. —At the request of a manufacturer, a standard specification for hand-operated spray-pumps of the type used by horticulturists and fruitgrowers was •completed and recommended for issue as a standard specification. Milk Bottles.—A standard specification establishing minimum requirements for the type of milk bottle at present in use was completed in draft form during the year, subject to the carrying-out of tests as a basis for strength requirements. The specification will be amended to provide for an improved type of bottle with a more hygienic closure as soon as sufficient data can be obtained to enable the requirements to be formulated. Butchers' and Slaughtermen's Knives. —The proposed standard specification for butchers' and slaughtermen's knives was completed in draft form and circulated to the affected interests for review and comment. It prescribes minimum requirements relating to quality of steel, grinding and polishing of the blade, security of the handle, and the general finish of the knife. Cow Covers.—The original emergency standard specification for cow covers was reviewed in the light of experience of its initial use and, subject to minor amendments, was recommended for issue in the regular series of standard specifications. Farm Implements Sectional Committee Tillage Machinery Parts Committee .. .. .. .. One meeting. Tillage Machinery Parts Panel .. .. .. .. One meeting. Tillage Machinery Parts.—lnitial investigation of the question of preparing standard for tillage machinery parts revealed that this involved a considerable amount of exploratory work to determine those items to which standardization could be first applied with the most advantage. Good progress was made with the survey i.during the year, and it is anticipated that in the coming year it will be possible to proceed with the formulation of draft standard specifications. The appropriate committees have supported the proposal to establish a farm machinery testing station, since this will greatly assist research relating to the development of standard specifications and the testing of machinery for conformity with such specifications after they have been . issued* Dairy Sectional Committee Dairy Machinery and Plant Committee .. .. .. One meeting. Dairy Products and Requisites Committee .. .. .. One meeting. Alkaline Cleaners Panel .. .. .. .. .. One meeting. Dairy Machinery and Plant.—During the year, the Dairy Machinery and Plant Committee resumed activity after being necessarily in recess since the outbreak of war. Its . initial programme of work includes the formulation of standard specifications for dairy

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