H—34

(2) Timber Protection Research.—A Timber Protection Research Committee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was established during the year to direct and co-ordinate research relating to the preservation of timber from the attacks of wood-boring insects and fungi. The depreciation of building securities resulting from the attacks of these pests presents a serious problem in New Zealand, and the Committee's function is to establish a research organization which can collect the fundamental scientific knowledge upon which effective control measures must be based. (3) Soil Erosion and Land Deterioration. —Following representations from the Royal Society of Zealand and the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research recommended the establishment of a Committee of experts to report on the measures necessary to maintain the vegetative cover in New Zealand so as to prevent irreparable damage being done as a result of uncontrolled soil erosion. This Committee was accordingly set up by the Hon. the Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research Department and has prepared a valuable report and recommendations for future action. Carter Observatory Board. The Carter Observatory Act was passed by Parliament during the year, as a result of which the Carter Bequest held by the Royal Society of New Zealand was handed over to a Carter Observatory Board for the establishment of an astronomical observatory in Wellington, to be known as the " Carter Observatory." The Act provides for an annual grant from the Government to the Carter Observatory Board to be included in the appropriations of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Ihe astronomical work hitherto carried out by the Dominion Observatory will now be transferred to the Carter Observatory. Visit of Scientific Liaison Officer. After an, absence from New Zealand of ten years, Mr. Nevill Wright, the Department's Scientific Liaison Officer in London, arrived in New Zealand in December to renew contact with research activities in New Zealand. Since his arrival Mr. Wright has been engaged in special duties relating to the development of secondary industries, and has also taken the opportunity of visiting all the research institutions and making personal contact with the research, workers. During Mr. Wright's absence, Mr. W. M. Hamilton is Acting Scientific Liaison Officer in London. Special Meetings for Implementation of Research Work. The annual dairy-factory-managers' week was held at the Dairy Research Institute at.Massey College for a discussion of the results of the current research work of the Institute. A half-yearly meeting of the Field. Crops and Herbage Plants Committee was also held. The personnel of this Committee is composed of research workers, teachers, and instructors, and through its activities close co-ordination of effort is maintained between the staffs of the Plant Research Bureau, the agricultural colleges, the Department of Agriculture, and the Cawthron Institute. The first of the refresher courses, which it is intended to develop for horticulture extension officers of the Department of Agriculture, was initiated early in August, when over thirty instructors from the Horticulture Division spent three days with officers of the Plant Diseases Division at Auckland listening to lectures dealing with the latest developments on. the control of pests in orchards. The course proved a most successful one, and provided an excellent method of transmitting to field officers new information regarding advances made in this sphere of research. Publications. A special bulletin reviewing the results of the research work carried out under the direction of the Research Council since its establishment was printed and widely circulated. This publication is intended to give in as concise and as non-technical a form as possible a broad review of the Council's work and. the benefits to industry which have accrued from its applications. A number of special bulletins dealing with a variety of subjects has been published during the year. Staff. Resignations.—Dr. J. Hosking, who has been conducting research in London relating to the commercial development of his process for the refining of kauri-gum, tendered his resignation as from 15th March, 1939, in. order to take up a commercial appointment in England. The Director of Apia Observatory, Mr. J. Wadsworth, resigned on the 9th August, 1938. Mr. 11. B. Sapsford has been appointed as Acting-Director. New Appointments.—Dr. P. R. McMahon, Wool Metrologist, seconded to Massey Agricultural College to work with the wool-research team there, and will also be available for consultation with the Wool Manufacturers' Research Association. Dr. S. Townend, Textile Research Officer, arrived in October, 1938, to take up his duties with the New Zealand Wool Manufacturers' Research Association. Dr. E. R. Cooper, Physicist, attached to Head Office staff. Dr. K. Kreielsheimer, Senior Physicist, Radio Research Committee. Dr. J. Reifer, Chemist, Plant Chemistry Laboratory. Dr. G. T. S. Baylis, Assistant Mycologist, Plant Diseases Division, Plant Research Bureau. Dr. C. 0. Hutton, Petrologist, Geological Survey Branch. Dr. A. R. L. Lillie, Geologist, Geological Survey Branch. Transfers— Dr. J. Melville was transferred from the Wheat Research Institute, Christchurch, to the position of Plant Biochemist and Officer in Charge of the Plant Chemistry Laboratory, Palmerston North.

6