Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1930-1949)

at meetings of the Working Committee. Verbal recommendations for revision, and those received from members unable to attend or interests not desiring direct representation, receive full consideration. This usually necessitates the preparation of several draft specifications, requiring considerable time before a proposed standard is considered ready for publication. Every effort is made, not only to assure full representation of the views of all interests, but to tap every available source of information, both foreign and domestic. Accordingly, when a standard is published, it represents, as far as possible, the best available authority consistent with general knowledge and local conditions. Approvals Division The G.S.A. has had a certification procedure in effect for many years and the C.S.A. label is recognized throughout Canada as a symbol of assurance that electrical equipment and devices are reasonably free from fire and accident hazards. This Approval Service, which now insures compliance with safety and performance standards can be extended, as and when industry becomes convinced that certification, on a quality basis, is beneficial to the producer as well as to the consumer. The details of the procedure will be developed in collaboration with appropriate producer and consumer interests as required. C.S.A. Standards An important feature of G.S.A. standards, in line with British and American standardizing practice, is that they are "voluntary" standards. As such, they serve as recommendations to industry and may or may not be adhered to by the manufacturers concerned. Such standards may, on the other hand, become mandatory by adoption by a government department having legal authority to enforce their requirements in the matters of governmental purchases, when the standards concern specific materials or products. The Association has published approximately 200 such standards— thus far limited to the various sections of engineering. Photography The G.S.A. Sectional Committee on Photography was organized in 1948 with Dr. L. E. Howlett of the National Research Council as chairman. Three specification committees are at work in this field at the present time: Z7.1 — Motion Picture Photography; Z7.2 — Still Photography; and Z7.3 — Survey Photography. Committee Z7.1 has completed a review of all basic A.S.A. and B.S.I, motion picture standards and some 43 have been published by the C.S.A. A specification for an industrial and educational model 16mm projector is now in the final draft stage. Members of this committee with their affiliations are: A. H. Simmons (Secretary), Gevaert (Canada) Limited, Ottawa Harold Walker, Dominion Sound Equipments Limited, Montreal Don Spring, Canadian Kodak Sales Ltd., Toronto John Gerald, Ansco of Canada Ltd., Toronto Sqn. Ldr. N. Drolet, Armed Services, Ottawa Gordon Adamson, National Film Society, Ottawa Gaudry DeLisle, Department of Education, Quebec City H. Goldin, Consulting Engineer, Toronto M. Metzger, Associated Screen News Ltd., Montreal Arthur Elsey, Canadian Industries Ltd., Montreal P. D. Carmen, National Research Council, Ottawa A. J. Pauley, The Odeon Theatres (Canada) Ltd., Toronto F. T. Myles, R.C.A. Victor Co. Ltd., Montreal John Young, Benograph, Montreal G. Graham (Chairman), National Film Board, Ottawa Editor's Note: This report was kindly prepared by Gerry Graham, Director of Technical Operations, National Film Board of Canada, upon our request for help in adding to the series of brief articles describing organizations which SMPTE members wish to know more about. Previous stories have been about the American Documentation Institute, the Biological Photographic Association, and the University Film Producers Association. Your suggestions for subjects or possible contributors for other articles are welcome. 157