Kenneth Austin published a paper entitled "The metrical standard of weights and measures" in the very first issue of the Journal of the Mechanical Engineers' Association of the Witwatersrand (Vol. 1(1), pp. 2-4) in 1902. (The association was founded in 1898, but started its own journal only four years later). The possible introduction of the metric system was considered by various local scientific societies at that time. Austin's paper led to considerable discussion by members of the association and resulted in a deputation to Lord Milner, Governor of the Transvaal Colony, requesting him to take steps to legalise the metric system as the only system of weights and measures in the colony. However, a commission chaired by R.T.A. Innes* recommended in 1906 that both the British and metric systems of weights and measures be recognized, mainly because it would have been impractical for the Transvaal Colony to adopt the metric system exclusively as long as Britain still used imperial weights and measures.
In 1905 the Mechanical Engineers' Association of the Witwatersrand was renamed the Transvaal Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Austin was an active member and contributed a paper entitled "Method for increasing efficiency of labour underground by mechanical means" to its Journal (1909/10, Vol. 8, p. 184-). In 1910 the institute became the South African Institution of Engineers. Three years later Austin read a paper before its members on "The combustion of coal", that was published in its Transactions (1913, Vol. 1, pp. 311-322). He took a leading role in planning another engineering society, the Association of Certificated Mechanical Engineers, which was founded in 1911. The object of the new association was to protect the professional standing of mechanical engineers, and its operations did not conflict with those of the South African Institution of Engineers. Austin was a foundation member and also the first secretary of this association. In 1916 he became a member of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science. At that time he still resided in Johannesburg.
In 1921 Austin, then a Council member of the South African Institution of Engineers, proposed legislation for
the legal registration of engineers in the Union of South Africa. The Council
agreed to his proposal and he produced his Engineers Private Bill
1922 which was referred to various interested parties as
well as to the Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Institutions in England. These
Institutions advised against registration and stated that it should be left to
employers and not the public to decide whom they may engage as engineers. After
further deliberations the South African Institution of Engineers arrived at the
conclusion that no useful purpose would be served in carrying the matter further. Austin died at some time before 1938.
