CHANGE IN CHEMICALS POST

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 9

CHANGE IN CHEMICALS POST

Mr F. B. Thompson has retired as superintendent of agricultural chemicals in the Department of Agriculture. His successor, Mr B. B. Watts, has been a scientist with the agricultural chemicals section of the department since 1968.

New Zealand’s representative at several international meetings on pesticide residues and a leading Department of Agriculture adviser on agricultural chemicals, Mr Thompson has been superintendent of agricultural chemicals since 1964 and during that period he has also served as registrar of the Agricultural Chemicals Board. “Mr Thompson’s knowledge of agricultural chemicals and his guidance on

these sensitive matters have benefited not only the coun-

try’s farmers but all New Zealanders,” said Dr A. T. Johns, who is DirectorGeneral of Agriculture. With the department for 44 years, Mr Thompson was at the Ruakura training farm—later known as the Ruakura animal research station—from 1937 to 1941, and he worked at the Ruakura soil research station from 1945 to 1964. His early work was in the field of weed control, soil nitrogen and early pest control. During the war years from 1941 to 1945 he was stationed in Melbourne with the Ministry of Munitions. Mr Thompson graduated from Victoria University in 1932 with a master of science degree in chemistry. He also holds a bachelor of science degree.