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RADIO RESEARCH. Advisory Committee. —Professor J. Shelley (Chairman), Professor P. W. Burbidge (Auckland), Professor D'. C. H. Floran.ce (Wellington), Professor R. Jack (Dunedin), Professor F. W. G. White (Christchurch), Squadron-Leader E. M. F. Grundy (Air Department), Major G. H. Heal (N.Z.S.C., Army Headquarters), Mr. E. H. R. Green (Post and Telegraph Department), Mr. •). R. Smith (National Broadcasting Service), Dr. M. A. F. Barnett, (Dominion Meteorologist), Dr. E. R. Cooper (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research), (Secretary). The following is a summary of the work carried out during the year:— (I) The Reception of Distant Signals Research. (a) Short-wave Direction-finding.—These experiments have been continued. A calibration was made using the field oscillator, with reference to true north, in a horizontal plane, the corrections necessary to take account of the proximity of the oscillator being allowed for. The portable Adcock equipment was modified to increase its sensitivity, and with this purpose in view the height of the aerial system was increased. A successful sense device has now been incorporated with the equipment. (b) Ultra-short-wave Worh.—Ultra-short-wave transmitters in the region from 1 metre _to 40 centimetres wave-length have been developed and the effect of reflectors on the propagation pattern has been studied. A receiver for the longer range of wave-length was built and tested. Ihe tests so far have been made over distances up to four miles. On the shortest wave-length the radiation pattern of a long wire aerial arranged in " V " formation, with parasitic reflector wires, is being investigated. (c) Audio-frequency Analyser. —An audio-frequency analyser, covering the range from 15 cycles to 15 kc. per second, employing inverse feedback over a three-terminal network was constructed. A calibration of the instrument was made using a Wien Bridge circuit and also a self-excited tuning-fork oscillator. The average selectivity is such that the relative attenuation is 2db at 1 per cent, off the peak to which the analyser is tuned. By a slight alteration the same instrument can be used as an audio-frequency oscillator covering the same frequency band as above. ('2) lonospheric Research. Routine measurements of the critical frequencies of the F and E regions have been made continuously throughout the year. LEATHER AND SHOE RESEARCH. Director : P. White. Assistant Director : F. G. Catjghley. LEATHER RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. Advisory Committee.- —Messrs. A. E. La wry (Chairman), C. Arlington, J. E. Astley, S. L. Wright, R. L. Andrew, and F. Johnson. During the years that the Research Association has been in existence the work carried out has resulted in a wider knowledge of the fundamental processes of manufacture. This, in turn, has provided new outlooks on factory methods and has established the importance of certain details which previously were regarded as of lesser significance. The value of this work is immediately established when efforts are made to step up production on a large scale as has been the case in recent months. The manufacture of leather is a series of balanced processes, and during the stepping-up of production unless the function of every process is understood, the balance may bo upset and failure will result. Although handicapped by reconstruction and expansion difficulties, by the lack of some of the usual tanning materials, by labour difficulties owing to men being called up for military training, and by machinery difficulties, the tanners have not only increased their outputs and range of products considerably, but have also maintained and increased the quality of their products. During the year under review five students of a Tanning Class at the Otahuhu Technical College sat for and passed the Examination of the City and Guilds, London, Stage I, in the Manufacture of Light and Heavy Leather. This beginning in the technical education of tannery workers will have important effects on the future of leather-manufacture in New Zealand. It will provide a constant supply of men for the trade, with the necessary knowledge to take charge of processes or to adapt existing methods to new conditions. Storage of Hides. The bulk of the hides is produced in a few months of the year. Consequently, as tanners have to produce a continuous supply of leather, some of the hides must be stored until such times as they are required. The condition of hides after storage under varying conditions of temperature and curing has been examined, and the work is still in progress.

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