55

H.—34.

Zealand hides, and is due to bacteria present in the salt used for curing purposes. Experiments are being carried out to determine the best denaturant of salt to be used to prevent this damage. Analysis of locally-grown varieties of bark suitable for tanning purposes has been continued. At present it seems that until some means has been found to combat the fungus which attacks the wattle-tree (Acacia decurrens) there is little likelihood of local production being increased. If this disease can be effectively dealt with, there is no reason why the amount of bark required by the tanners should not be grown entirely in New Zealand. During the past year attention has been devoted to the chemical analyses both of New Zealand leather and of imported leather. These analyses have been associated with wear tests on the special testing-machine used. Work is now in operation to correlate, if possible, microscopical examinations of leather-texture with its wearing-qualities. Conditions affecting the water-absorbing qualities of leather have been under review, and a report thereon has been circulated to members of the association. Water-absorption by leather is very important from the boot-manufacturers' as well as from the wearing point of view. The bootmakers are faced with the difficulty of obtaining a bright clear finish on shoe-soles. If alterations in the processes now used in the boot-factories are to be avoided, attention- must be given to reducing the water-absorbing qualities of the sole leather. Further investigations are being made regarding the wearing-qualities of leather. Progress in this very important problem is slow, on account of the number of processes which have to be employed before the finished article is obtained. An alteration at any one stage not only affects the leather, but also the other processes. Thus it is extremely difficult to determine whether the altered wearingvalue is due to the reaction on the leather or to the reaction on the succeeding processes. An endeavour has been made in a very limited time to demonstrate that improvements can be effected in the fellmongering of sheep and lamb skins produced in some of the freezing-works. In this connection sample lines of skins have been processed by different methods for special trial. Shipments of these skins have been made to England and America for submission to manufacturers. It is expected that in this way it will be possible to ascertain with certainty the requirements of the actual users. At the same time endeavours are being made to expand the uses of New Zealand pickled pelts. RADIO RESEARCH. Advisory Committee : Mr. A. Gibbs (Chairman), Professor R. Jack, Professor P. W. Burbidge. Mr. J. M. Bingham, Dr. M. A. F. Barnett. During the year arrangements have been completed for New Zealand's adhesion to the International Scientific Radio Union, which is one of the sections of the International Research Council. Membership of the Union will greatly facilitate the arrangement of experiments which may involve a certain amount of co-operation with foreign countries. An exchange of information has also been arranged with the British and the Australian Radio Research Boards respectively, so that there may be a proper co-ordination of the work and any overlapping may be avoided. The Committee has decided to pursue, initially, a modest programme of research, involving work in connection with " atmospherics," measurements of field strength of local stations, and measurements of the diurnal variation in strength of certain Australian stations. It is also intended to carry out experiments in connection with the total solar eclipse which takes place in October, 1930. In connection with " atmospherics," work is already in progress at Auckland University College, where a suitable direction-finder, utilizing a cathode-ray oscillograph is being developed, with the object of determining the direction of arrival of individual " atmospherics." If the preliminary work with this apparatus shows sufficient promise it is probable that a second set will be installed at Otago University, when, by utilizing land-line communication between the two stations, it should be possible to locate the position of the source of individual " atmospherics." As it is now fairly well established ( that " atmospherics" are intimately connected with particular meteorological conditions at the place of origin, it is hoped that the subsequent development of this work may play an important part in providing additional meteorological information from the Tasman Sea area. Work is in progress at Victoria University College on the automatic recording of the signalstrength of certain Australian broadcasting stations. It is intended to analyse the records to determine whether there is any correlation between the signal variations and meteorological conditions over the Tasman Sea. A detailed programme is being drawn up for work on measurements of the field strength round certain local broadcasting and Government wireless stations. The results of this research should be of direct benefit to the Broadcasting Company in enabling them to plan their services to the best advantage, and it is hoped, when the plans aTe finalized, that the Broadcasting Company and the Post and Telegraph Department will actively co-operate with this Department in the experiments. The path of totality of the solar eclipse in October next passes across the Pacific Ocean, running between Fiji and Samoa. Arrangements will be made for measurements in New Zealand of signals originating in Honolulu and for measurements in Fiji of signals originating in Samoa, and vice versa. The amateur wireless organizations in the Dominion will be given an opportunity of co-operating in this experiment. STANDARDS AND STANDARDIZATION. Proposed Standards Laboratory. —The report of the preliminary committee recommending the establishment of a laboratory for physical standards was placed before Cabinet, who approved the general scheme and the setting-up of a technical advisory committee, composed as follows : Professor J. E. L. Cull, representing University engineering interests ; Professor C. C. Farr, representing the