RESEARCH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 4

RESEARCH.

PROGRESS IN N.Z. AN INTERESTING REPORT. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November IS. Reporting to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the chairman, .Mr G. Cjhirtclifie, states that .steady progress has been made and much lias been accomplished towards inaugurating new activities by means of conferences and meetings with the representatives of various industries. A Fuel Research Committee has been established representative of the coal mine owners, the Mines Department, and the Council. A programme of investigations has been- ' discussed and approved and arrangements for conducting the work at the Dominion Laboratory and elsewhere have been made. ' Research workers will commence work at an early date on low temperature distillation processes and on an investigation into the nature of mine dusts likely to cause explosions in mines. In conjunction with the Railway Department an investigation of the' utilisation of the carbonised residues from the distillation processes is projected. Ileal progress has been made towards launching a programme of cereal products research. Tho scheme for the establishment, operation, and support of a cereal research laboratory in Christchurch has been placed prominently before wheat-growers, flourmillers, and bakers, and everywhere has met with approval. A comprehensive report on cereal research has been provided for the Council by Mr L. D. Foster and this will give valuable guidance in the development of this work. Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf has furnished a report on the milling trials conducted with certain varieties of wheat which he has recently to detailed investigation. . "With the- assistance of the subsidised grant made by the Council earlier in the year, investigations into the phormium industry are still proceeding. Dr. J. S. Yeates, has been carrying out work on the cytological problems of the flax plant with a view to tracing those particular properties which contribute towards the production, of good fibre. These investigations are fundamental in nature and'have an important bearing upon the selection and breeding of. flax varieties. Mr P. W. Aitken has been continuing his researches into the chemical properties of flax fibre and residues at the Miranui Mill. Meat and Loather; Conferences have been held with representatives of the meat and leather industries and plans for the organisation of research into their respectivo problems are at present receiving attention; Advices have been received regularly from Mr T. Rigg (who at present is studying the technique of animal nutrition at the Rowett Institute) concerning the visits paid to a number of research stations in England. and the U.S.A. Mr Rigg's reports contain much of very real interest in view of their relationship to New Zealand problems and his visit- will assist very materially the Council's endeavours to co-ordinate local research activities with those overseas in an endeavour to make for' Empire wide co-operation. The approaching visit,of Mr- L. S. Amery and his association with th<) Empire Marketing Board will afford an opportunity for placing before the Home authorities the desire of the Council for Imperial research co-opera-tion, as well as the local attitude towards the conduct of any such scheme. During September and October Dr. Franklin Kidd, together with officers of Dhe Department of Agriculture, made,, an extensive inspection of cold storage conditions as existing in. the various districts of the Dominion. Dr. Kidd has furnished a report on his visit in which he has made recommendations for the conduct of certain investigations and for the co-operation of work with the Cambridge Low Temperature Research Station. In view of the prime importance of cold storage in the successful marketing of so great a portion of the Dominion's expert. Dr. Kidd's report will require careful consideration. At the present time, negotiations are in progress with a view to conducting certain scientific observations on'the behaviour of New Zealand fruit in transit to the Home markets during the coming shipping season.