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The Department has emerged stronger from its wartime efforts, and co-operation between its various branches on ad hoc problems and with other departments is more real and effective. Although the Department is as yet by no means freed from work for the military services, particularly the Dominion Laboratory, Dominion Physical Laboratory, and special branches, considerable thought has been given to post-war organization, functioning, and requirements. Cabinet has approved of an extension of the number of research associations to serve particular sections of industry and to the principle of their legal incorporation as bodies managing their own affairs in co-operation with the more general scientific services provided by the Department. The Geological Survey has been strengthened in anticipation of further requirements from industry, public works, and the numerous inquiries and investigations asked for by the Organization for National Development and its regional committees. Similarly, the Soil Survey Division has been extended to meet the greatly increased demand from other Departments and from outside sources. An important experiment has been made in North Auckland in evaluating the value of the soil maps in relation to the factors concerned in economic management, production, and potential land use. The results show that the soil survey is conducted on sound lines and has enormous potentialities. The Plant Research Bureau has reviewed its programme in the light of requirements for increased production and post-war requirements, and steps are in hand accordingly, including testing of new grasses at a station in Southland and the development of higher yielding varieties of maize and other warm-climate crops. Consideration has been given to researches required in two immediately important questions— building and fuel. In regard to the former we have had the benefit of a survey of the position overseas by two of our officers, and also a visit from two senior Australian building-research officers. Further effort is fully justified, particularly in regard to the following matters :— (а) The investigation of problems (affecting buildings already completed and occupied) of heating, insulation, acoustics, and ventilation : (б) The investigation of new materials placed on the market to compete with old-established and commonly accepted materials : (c) The development of substitute materials, methods of treatment of existing materials, and new methods of construction : (d) Co-ordination of effort of Government Departments and private enterprise in the fields of routine testing and research as applied to building and allied industries : (e) The distribution of technical information to interested parties. With regard to fuel, the programme of work in regard to coal survey has been greatly accelerated. Further aconti is desirable along the following lines, regarding which preliminary work has already been done :— (1) Design of coal-burning ranges in homes to give greater efficiency of radiant energy and more suitable to fuels now available : (2) Surveys of industrial plants from the point of view of reduction of consumption of coal required to give the same service : (3) Briquetting of lignites. (4) Gasification of lower-grade coals. The investigation of coal resources is, of course, only one aspect of the general question of fuel and power in New Zealand, whether oil, steam, or other power source, Long-range work is in hand in these various directions. The Information and Publicity Section has been organized as a separate unit and the machinery built up during the war for the obtaining and dissemination of research information is in process of transfer to civil requirements. It has become increasingly recognized that it is not sufficient for scientists to be aware of the urgency and necessity of extending activities, of undertaking a greatly increased programme of research, but it is also essential that the public realize the importance of the research method and the work contemplated. As a writer in Nature has expressed it, " unless there is a general understanding of the achievements and possibilities of scientific research, we cannot expect that there will be forthcoming the public support either in finance or men on which the expansion of our scientific effort to meet the post-war demands and opportunities ultimately depends." Careful consideration has been given, particularly by the Manufacturers' Research Committee, to the servicing of industry with technical and scientific information called for by the newer processes and products evolved during the war or brought about by the tremendous advances in technology during the past decade. Apart from the organization of research associations and the facilities provided by the Information Bureau there are real requirements of the many small ungrouped industrial concerns. Some direct liaison service appears to be called for, particularly during the next two years or so while industrial concerns and organizations may well be in a greater state of flux due to the above causes and rehabilitation generally. The same need has been realized in other countries. Plans to meet this situation have been drawn up, together with appropriate principles governing costing and payments by industry. The Dominion Physical Laboratory, in particular, has been involved in considerable technical servicing of industrial units concerned with munitions contracts not only from the point of view of preparation and calibration of gauges, but in the design and manufacture of special instruments to facilitate process control and new processes. An enormous amount of work has been done and much experience gained. The proper transfer of these activities into the post-war period with a delineation of its functions in relation to private industry is in process of adjustment. This experience, and also that of the Dominion Laboratory, on the chemical problems gives a valuable guide to post-war policy and possibilities. It is also necessary to evolve a system of dealing with patents arising from discoveries in the various laboratories both in research and development. Consideration of this matter is well advanced. Discussions are also taking place in regard to the question of training of scientific personnel in research methods by the universities. It is realized that a greater supply of men with higher scientific training will be required, also modifications of the methods of recruitment to the Public Service not only of those who have received their higher training in New Zealand, but those who have proceeded overseas with university scholarships. E. Mabsden, Secretary.

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