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SECRETARY'S REPORT. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has held six meetings during, the year. In addition, there have been several meetings of the Wellington members, who constitute an executive. The personnel of the Council is as follows : — Mr. George Shirtcliffe, 0.8. E. (Chairman). Professor Henry George Denham, D.Sc., M.A., Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Canterbury College, Christchurch. Professor John Malcolm, M.8., Ch.B., Professor of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin. Mr. Theodore Rigg, M.Sc., Director, Cawthron Institute, Nelson. Mr. Hugh Vickerman, D.5.0., 0.8. E., M.Sc., M.lnst.C.E., Wellington. Mr. George A. Pascoe, Chairman, Development of Industries Committee. Mr. Archibald M. Seaman, P.P.A.N.Z., Public Accountant, Auckland. Mr. Alfred H. Cockayne, Assistant-Director-General of Agriculture, Wellington. Dr. Ernest Marsden, M.C., D.Sc., P.R.S.N.Z. (Secretary). During the year the Development of Industries Committee met on three occasions. The expenditure of the Department during the year was as follows : — Permanent services— £ Head Office, publications, Research Scholarships, and miscellaneous . . 5,633 Dominion Laboratory (with branches) .. .. .. .. 11,229 Geological Survey . . .. .. . . . . 4,957 Meteorological Office . . .. .. . . . . 6,804 Apia Observatory . . . . .. .. . . . . 1,937 Dominion Observatory .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,615 Magnetic Observatory .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,891 Lincoln College .. .. . . .. . . 4,822 Research investigations .. .. .. .. .. 31,188 Total .. .. .. . .. .. 64,443 The funds devoted to research work were derived from the following sources: — £ Empire Marketing Board . . . . . . . . . . 6,608 Industries . . .. . . . . .. . . 6,142 Sales and miscellaneous recoveries .. .. .. .. 4,918 Consolidated Fund .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,520 31,188 The year was one in which a great number of financial difficulties were experienced, partly because of the Empire Marketing Board ceasing to function, and of the difficulty of knowing, far in advance, what action was being taken to deal with the unexpended balances, and the unexpended terms of various researches which had been inaugurated by the assistance of this Board. During the year the services of the Department have been called upon to an increasing extent, and apart from the main lines of research development, upon which it is engaged, there is a rapidly increasing number of what might be termed " minor " inquiries from numerous industries. These inquiries have involved a great deal of additional work, and despite the restrictions imposed by reduction of financial resources, very full service has been rendered as the result of the loyal co-operation of all scientific workers. DOMINION LABORATORY. The Dominion Laboratory has continued to perform the chemical investigations required by all Government Departments, except that of Agriculture. A good deal of the work is of a routine character, such as is required in the testing of materials purchased under specifications by various Departments, and for the enforcement of regulations. This routine work, however, often reveals certain major lines of investigation, and leads to research activities being undertaken. The wide range of problems brought to the Laboratory renders it essentia] that each member of the staff, in addition to possessing qualifications in special directions, should co-operate with other members. The staffing and facilities of the Dominion Laboratory, in view of this possibility of co-ordination, are in a position to render a very complete chemical service for Government requirements. The Health Department makes the greatest use of the Laboratory in connection with the administration of the Food and Drugs Act, some three thousand examinations of foodstuffs and drinks being made during the year. The influence of this continuous supervision of the composition of foodstuffs exerts a marked influence upon the quality of all materials offered for sale in the Dominion. Improvements in quality are most marked in the case of milk, some 7,500 samples of which were examined during the year. The quality of the milk now sold in the Dominion may be very advantageously contrasted with that which prevailed prior to the enforcement of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Tests made of enamelware imported revealed that certain types of this material were sufficiently defective in quality to adversely affect the health of users, and therefore the manufacturers have been notified accordingly. Drinking-water supplies have been subjected to close supervision, as the risks from stream-pollution continue steadily to increase from year to year.

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