BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 6

BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.

RECENT CRITICISMS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLING ion, June 15. The Minister ol Agriculture is having die matter of the recent criticisms of the tnological laboratory tally inquired into, in ine meantime he refers to one or two pomis. In an inuu view tins aiternoon ho said that the suggestion Unit the present building be acquired for laboratory purposes came from die biological stall, and it nad stated at the_ time quite correctly that in America dwelling-houses were sometimes converted into laboratories tor work of this kind, and were found to bo quite satisiaelory. This building, however, was only acquired after the mutter of buildings available for the purpose hud been vciy aiiiy gone into. “It is. 1 am inlornied," added the Minister, “quite healthy and sufficiently roomy except m one or two apartments where die work done hi them has increased of lino. J lie staff as regards numbers is approximately the same as when the building was iirst occupied. No request for necessary appliances or equipment hasheon refused, and the staff, who are undoubtedly keen on their work, have been given encouragement not only in their work but m the prosecution oi further study. The laboratory is near Victoria College, and of die eight principal members of the staff some have availed themselves of the opportunities of taking a degree. “As to salaries, f find tiiat in spite of the retrenchment which took place in the intervening period, the aggregate salaries of these eight officers amounted to £BIO more in 1925-24 than in 1920, the individual increases bemg £lls, £BS, £2O, £125, £BS, £165, £55, and £l6O. “As to the point whether Wellington is a suitable location for a biological laboratory, it is considered necessary that it be in the city or adjacent to it, so that the staff can be in close touch with the senior departmental officers who are more or less concerned in the work done in it. “As regards fire risks, a considerable amount has been done to provide safeguards against fire.”