H.—29.

ANIMAL RESEARCH DIVISION. REPORT OF J. F. FILMER, ACTING-DIRECTOR. Animal research, like all other national activities, has been overshadowed during this year by the national war effort. The importance of animal research in wartime is hard to assess, but it should be realized that its complete cessation would mean the disintegration of the organization, the disbandment of the carefully integrated research teams, and the deterioration of equipment. Reorganization in the post-war period would present special difficulties. Every effort is therefore being made to maintain at least a foundation on which to rebuild after the war. In the meantime as much research will be conducted as is possible with the staff available. The primary object of this wartime research will be the obtaining of knowledge which will enable New Zealand's animal industries to meet the keener competition resulting from the reorientation of animal-production and the development of artificial substitutes by increasing efficiency wherever possible. Active collaboration has been maintained with the Live-stock Division in the diagnosis of disease, the collection of specimens,, and the conduct of field trials ; with the Fields Division in pasture trials at Ruakura, in observations 011 pastures, especially in connection with facial eczema, and in manurial trials with serpentine superphosphate and seaweed ; with the Dairy Division in milking-machine investigations; with the Dairy Research Institute in mastitis and milking-machine research ; with the Plant Research Bureau, the Soil Survey Division, and the Physical Testing Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in facial-eczema investigations ; with Canterbury Agricultural College in projects connected with sheep mortality in Canterbury, and with Massey Agricultural College in the genetics of Southdown photosensitization ; with the Cawthron Institute in the chemistry of minerals in pastures and soils. Farmers' organizations have given valuable assistance during the year. Special mention should be made in this regard of the Dairy Board, whose herd-recording association has assisted in collecting statistics and examining data in connection with milking-machines, mastitis, sterility, and stripping experiments. Individual farmers have given good service on the Facial Eczema Management Committee, the Ruakura Farm Advisory Committee, the Waikato Dairy Cattle Sterility Committee, and the Milking-machine Investigations Committee. Substantial financial assistance has again been received from the Dairy Board and the Wool Publicity Committee. Staff. Attempts have been made to import trained men to fill some of the key positions to which reference was made in the last annual report. The position of parasitologist has been successfully filled, but it has been impossible to obtain suitable research workers for other important vacancies. It is obvious that these will have to be filled by appointing promising junior workers and providing facilities for their training overseas when circumstances permit. Some of the younger research workers are already showing considerable promise, and are quite worthy of opportunities for training in some of the famous research institutions in other countries. The Wallaceville Animal Research Station has been strengthened by the appointment of a librarian and a carpenter. Twenty-two officers are serving with the overseas Forces, and ten have served during the year in the Territorial Forces in New Zealand. Other members of the staff are serving in the National Military Reserve or the Home Guard. Buildings and Equipment. During the year the new Laboratory at Wallaceville was completed and was officially opened by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. P. Fraser. This research station is now well equipped, and the officers there are able to work under conditions which, are much more favourable than have hitherto been available. The extensions to the laboratory at Ruakura which are necessary to house the Chemistry Section must of necessity be deferred until after the war. A very efficient grass drier has been installed at Ruakura and has been of great assistance in preserving samples for chemical analysis and for animal-feeding experiments. The Department is indebted to Messrs. Joyner and Ledger, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, for preparing the plans for the drier.

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