VALUABLE RESEARCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 29 September 1944, Page 4

VALUABLE RESEARCH

CONTRIBUTION TO ALLIED WAR EQUIPMENT IMPORTANT WORK IN N.Z. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington. This Day. New Zealand's Scientific and Industrial Research Department has made some distinctive contributions to the Allied war equipment, according to a high testimonial which the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) gave in the House oi Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr Fraser mentioned the radiodirection finding apparatus which had been manufactured in New Zealand at the request of American commanders in the Pacific. They were thus able to get the apparatus more quickly through the medium of small-scale production than if they had had to wait until radar was massed produced in their own country. New Zealand's instruments, he added, were as efficient as any in the world, and he was amazed at the precision of the work being done in this country. WIRELESS-DIRECTED BOATS "In the Channel at present, and probably in the Mediterranean.” continued the Prime Minister, "our forces are using wireless-directed boats tilled with explosives, which were successfully experimented with in the Hauraki Gulf about two years ago. These experiments were as interesting as in any part of the world.” The Canterbury and Auckland Engined ing Schools, said the Prime Minister, had done remarkable work under the direction of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department. One feature was the electric eye which overcame the problem of providing a large number of guards for vital points, as it indicated when anyone crossed a particular spot. Penicillin, the new bacteriological discovery, had also received attention, the Prime Minister continued, as the head of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department (Dr. Marsden) was in London when penicillin became prominent, and he got in touch with the discoverers. He discussed the possibility of co-operating with Australia i«i research and production -of penicillin. The Department, concluded Mr Fraser, was keeping abreast of all possibilities in this important sphere, and it was untiring in its consideration ol the application of stientific discovery to the industrial expansion of the Dominion. CAWTHROX INSTITUTE The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry) remarked that another important scientific institution was the Cawthron Institute at Nelson. It was an intellectual treat to vi*it it and find what a great service it was rendering to New Zealand in solving some of the problems affecting fanning. THANKS OF ARMED SERVICES The thanks of the armed services for the work of the department were expressed by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones). Valuable research had been done by the department for the services. he said, and the head of the department (Dr. Marsden) had helped to keep the Dominion right up to date in radar developments. Referring to some of the assistance given to the services by the department. Mr Jones instanced the development of a mine detector and improvements carried out to radio sets to make them more effective in tropical areas. A special emergency ration for use in forward areas had been produced in conjunction with the services, though it had not been necessary to use it. Some of the scientists in the department had also provided tuition for men of the United States Forces and that was indicative of.the high regard in which they were held. Valuable assistance had also been given by the department in connection with range finders and optical instruments. A call had also been made on the department concerning the establishment of a naval optical workshop. Reference was also made by the Minister to the work of the department in investigating inventions sent for examination. The Army. Navy, and Air Force were indebted to 'the department, from which they had always received the utmost assistance.