THE DRESS SHIRT
Sta,—My intrusions into the valuable space of such journals as yours are of very rare occurrence—otherwise I should make no attempt to reply to Mr. H. C. Curwen's letter in The Spectator for November 9th. He laughed—sardonically—when he read my letter in the October 26th issue! I have read his with mingled feelings of sorrow and regret; with sorrow, in that he contributes nothing to the solution of the problem of the dress shirt but, in contrasting metaphor, discourses on "dicatorial edicts " and " arbitrary regulations," matters real or imaginary with which I have no concern: with regret, over the obvious fact that a professional gentleman such as Mr. Curwen appears to be, is ignorant of the functions of a recognised research association, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of H.M. Govern- ment. It is no part of our.work to "temper the wind to the shorn lamb " but to carry out fundamental research and so to apply the results that methods of cleansing fabrics may be the best possible—and to give unbiased advice to the industry which supports us. This policy, carried out over a period of 25 years, has done much to improve laundry services to the public ; but the exigencies of war have inevitably precluded laundries from giving that service which they used to give and which they desire to re-instate as soon as circumstances permit.
It would be out of place to dilate on the services which this research association has rendered to the country during the war years, though publicly recognised in ministerial quarters: but I should like to be permitted to extend a cordial invitation to Janus, Mr. Curwen and to any other of your readers who may be interested, to visit this research station and to see at first hand what our many laundry members are doing to give the public a square deal.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
The Laboratories, Hill View Gardens, Hendon, N.W. 4.
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