SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20289, 23 December 1927, Page 10

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH. COUNCIL’S FIRST YEAR OF WORK. SUCCESSFUL RESULTS CLAIMED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 15. The first annual report of the Australian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, which was recently presented to the Federal Parliament, claims that even in its initial year of work, the council has been responsible for many successful investigations. into methods of assisting production. The year’s efforts have been concentrated largely on problems associrvted with animal and plant pests and diseases, fuel (especially liquid fuels), preservation of foodstuffs" (especially cool storage), and forest products. As far as agricultural research is concerned, the council has established close co-operation with the State agricultural departments. The council is acting as a clearing house for information on agricultural research, and is preparing a register on what is proceeding in this work throughout th 0 Commonwealth. Attention is directed in the report to the highly-satisfactory progress made in the control and eradication of prickly pear by the introduction and liberation of insects ' which attack the pear. The view is expressed that the results obtained indicate success will be achieved. Already as a result of destruction by insects and chemical methods by the Queensland Prickly Pear Lands Commission, the spread of the pear, which is estimated at 1,000,000 acres a year, has been checked. Placing the value of pear land at 5s an acre, this represents a saving of £250,000 a year. The council attaches great value to a systematic. attack on scientific problems affecting irrigation settlements. Two research stations have been established for work on vine and citrus fruit problems, and the investigation of soil problems is also being undertaken in these areas., AL ready results of great value, have been obtained. For example, it is estimated that the introduction of the “cold-dip” process of drying sultanas represents a gain of £30,000 to the industry in last season alone. Entomological problems constitute an important part .of the council’s work. Investigations are in progress on the buffalo fly pest of Northern Australia, the underground grass grub of Tasmania, fruit pests, the lucerne flea of South Australia, and other pests. A supply of parasitic insects which destroy the larvae of the buffalo fly is being obtained through the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, and it is expected that they will assist to control the pest. The council’s entomologist has discovered an insect which is exceedingly destructive to ragwort, a poisonous weed which has spread rapidly in various parts of this country. After thorough tests have been carried but it is hoped that by breeding and liberating large numbers of these insects, the weed will be brought under control. “ Very great success,” the report states, “ has resulted from the council’s work on the production of paper from Australian trees. Finnacial interests are now proceeding to follow up the council’s work, and to expend up to £50,000 in testing the practicability of producing newsprint on a one-ton-a-day plant. If the results, are satisfactory, the establishment of the newsprint industry, involving th e expenditure of from £1,500,000 to £2,000,000 during the next five or six years, is probably assured. Similarly very satisfactory results have hben obtained from the council’s investigations into the manufacture of wrapping papers from pinus insignis, which has been planted extensively in the southern parts of Australia.’’