THE JOURNAL
Lectures tended to be recorded in full in the journals. Committee members said the ‘over elaboration was unnecessary’. The cost of advertising in the Journal was 30s for one page and £2 for 2 pages.
After the War, the cost of publishing the Journal rose steadily and its financial viability regularly came under scrutiny: it had increased in size from 68 pages (+ 40 pages of advertisements) in 1946 to 152 pages (with 61 pages of advertisements) in 1951.
For instance, in 1951-2, ideas were suggested to reduce the cost, including the use of cheaper paper.
​In that same year, subscriptions were increased from 3s 6d to 5s, with admission to lectures for non-members increasing from 6d to 1s. It was agreed to charge non-members 7s 6d for the Journal.
Also in that year, the Society received a letter from a gentleman asking for help in obtaining employment. The Hon Secretary replied that this was not really a function of the Society.
​It was reported that several overseas students at the Technical College wished to continue receiving the journal on their return home. It was agreed to allow such students to deposit a sum of money to the Society; they would continue to receive the Journal until the fund was exhausted.​
In the 1950s, further difficulties beset the Journal, this time in terms of a failure to produce scripts of lectures and discussions: these continued for some years.
On this occasion, it was suggested that a competent shorthand typist be hired and a Mrs Blatch was appointed at a fee of £1-1s-0d per lecture.
Such typists never seemed to last for very long, the same issue being raised several times over the years.
In 1957, there were still difficulties in getting lectures reported for the Journal and it was suggested that the Society borrow a tape recorder and then to transcribe from the tapes.
It was not recorded whether this trial proceeded or not.
Contacts were being made with European textile organisations. In 1954, an exchange of journals was agreed with the Swedish Institute for Textile Research, and a similar agreement was reached with a Czechoslovakian Textile Institution in 1956.
The major topic of discussion in 1959-60 was again the Journal and the difficulties encountered in getting lectures published in it.
It was again suggested that a shorthand typist be appointed (to be paid £5 per lecture): no mention was made of what had become of previous incumbents, nor of the results of any trials using a tape recorder. However, it was noted in the arrangements for the AGM that ‘the two typists’ be invited.
These problems meant that few copies of the lectures held in 1959-60 were available and it was agreed that they would be included together with the 1960-1 lectures in that year’s Journal.
Exactly the same problem arose in 1961-2: further difficulties in getting lectures transcribed and it was decided to put a motion to the AGM to discontinue publication of the Journal.
Opinions were clearly divided on this issue since, at the next Committee meeting 3 weeks later it was decided to ‘publish the Journal that was ready’; and to review the situation in the next year.
At the start of the following session (1962-3), the subject of difficulties in transcribing lectures for the Journal arose yet again. Once again, the use of a tape recorder or shorthand typist was suggested, but these possible solutions were deemed to be impractical.
There were financial issues associated with the Journal and it was sated that even a significant increase in advertising fees would still not make the Journal self supporting.
One Committee member averred that the Journal was, in any case, superfluous and barely read by members, since there were ‘lots’ of technical literature available.
Finally, on 29 October 1962, it was agreed to discontinue the Journal.
Mr John Mahoney was made an Honorary Life Member for his services to the Journal.