Minute Book: Research Liaison Committee

Described as 'Research Liason Committee 2'. (sic)

The Research Liaison Committee was a body established jointly by African Explosives &

Chemical Industries Ltd (AE&CI Ltd) and Cooper & Nephews South Africa (Pty) Ltd in 1946. The object of the committee was described then as follows:

'The object of the committee will be to facilitate the better prosecution of Research and Development work on processes and products falling within the sphere of mutual interest of the two companies, as set out in the agreement recently concluded. The committee will not be concerned with the production or sale of established products.'

Meetings generally took place monthly with occasional breaks. Three representatives from each company sat on the committee for the most part. The volume contains mostly minutes of the meetings of the committee, although there are also copies of reports presented to the committee.

Meetings usually took place at Coopers' offices.

There is an index at the front of the volume.

Secretarial support for the meetings of the committee was generally provided by Coopers.

The meetings of 23 Sep 1948 (p. 23) and 20 Oct 1948 (p. 43) are attended by W E O Walker-Leigh, Managing Director of Cooper McDougall & Robertson Ltd [Berkhamsted].

This volume contains much detailed material on the testing programmes carried out on new products, and their results. Selective weedkiller chemicals are among those frequently discussed.

On p. 61 there is a note of the relationship agreed between Coopers and AE&CI in East Africa.

Sir William Cooper attended the meeting of 11 May 1949 (p. 94).

8 Jul 1948 - 26 Jul 1950

1 item

Please see main WF collection description (ref. 'WF').