ANIMAL RESEARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 21

ANIMAL RESEARCH.

BUREAU PROPOSED.

REPORT TO THE MINISTER.

STUDY AT THREE CENTRES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A scheme of organisation for an Animal Research Bureau in New Zealand is contained in a report by Dr. JohD Hammond, of the Animal Nutrition School of the University of Cambridge, who recently visited the Dominion. The establishment of three animal research institutes, one at Massey College, one at Canterbury Agricultural College and the other at Wallaceville. is recommended.

In making the report available, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, said the opinions expressed therein were not necessarily his or the Government's, but an opportunity would be given those organisations interested to get together with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and make recommendations with regard to the suggestions the report contained.

Some of the problems listed by Mr. Hammond as calling for investigation are dairy cow, sheep and pig wastage. He states it would be advisable in the ii- it place to make a survey of the causes of losses in the different animal industries, and find out as far as possible the conditions under which these losses were most prevalent. • Genetical fertility, nutritional problems and live stock diseases are also discussed.

The constitution of an Animal Research Bureau is suggested. Dr. Hammond recommends that the bureau should come directly under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and that it should receive a statutory grant to cover the cost ot a nucleus staff, and such other grants from the Treasury as may be approved by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

It is suggested that three animal research institutes should be formed as follows: —(1) At Massey College, to deal with problems of the breeding, feeding and management of dairy cows, pigs (pork and bacon), sheep (lamb and wool production), beef cattle, horses and poultry, under North Island conditions. (2) At Canterbury Agricultural College, to deal with similar problems under South Island conditions. (3) At Wallaceville, to deal with diseases of live stock.

Dealing with the staffing of animal research institutes, Dr. Hammond states ft it is important that the research staffs should be free from all regulatory, administrative and teaching duties. There should be permanence of appointment.