SCIENTIFIC WORK

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 4, 29 September 1944, Page 6

SCIENTIFIC WORK

Researches By Department PRAISE BY MR. FRASER The work of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was praised bv the Prime Minister, Mr. h taser, in .the House yesterday, when that departments estimates were under consider a “on He said it had done magnificent work in connexion with the war effort. Those who like him Self had seen.the radar equipment built by the department ami seen something of the «« exact precision work must hate been impressed and astonished that such splend?d work could have been done, said Mr Eraser. The American commanders ha begged that radar sets should be sent to them. It was shown that with the smaller equipment of plant that we had here sets could be turned out more rapidly than from the bigger plants in the United States, because of the time taken to or ganize large units. The sets were as efficient as any in the workl. Air. Fraser said the Allied forces were using wireless methods in , c0 P ncx !°“A l ‘j surface craft carrying explosives tha .had been experimented with by the department in the Hauraki Gulf about 24 years ago. These experiments, had been abreast of anything carried out in any part of was also paid by Mr. Fraser to the work of the Auckland and Canterbury schools of engineering m connexion with the development of what was known 7s the “electric eye.” When the question of reducing the numbers of guards at essential points in New Zealand was under consideration there arose the protein of what would take the places of the men. This electric indicator was then evolved and brought in. The department had also kept abreast of the developments in connexion with .penicillin and Dr. Marsden had been in the closest touch with those associated with its evolution and discussed the possibilities! of production of this important drug in New Zealand. The department was also very much alive to. the possibilities of applying science to industrial expansion after the war, _ . Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford) eaid that while he fully appreciated the work of the department, he felt it should concentrate on-specific things instead of spreading itself over a wide field in which other countries were more advanced. Appreciation of the work done by the department was expressed by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. He said that though it had not been necessary to use them, special emergency rations for use in the forward areas had beeii produced bv the department in conunjction with the services. Some of the department s scientists had also been training men of the United States Forces. Quite recently the help of the department had been sought in connexion with a naval optical workshop.