H—ls

Following the tragic Ballantyne fire at Christchurch in 1947, the Department has •co-opted a member of the staff to assist a Standards Committee to redraft a comprehensive series of New Zealands Standards for fire-extinguishing appliances. The Marine Department has a long experience in the protection of ships from fire hazards which is of practical help for the task engaging the attention of the Standards Institute Fire Extinguishers Committee. The Department has also examined and commented upon many British and New Zealand standards dealing with a variety of other technical subjects, including general mechanical engineering, welding, and packaging and marking of goods for transport. STAFF I desire to express my appreciation of the work of the whole of the staff during the past year. The co-operation, loyalty, arid conscientious devotion to duty has been of nigh calibre. FISHERIES A comprehensive report on the working of the Fisheries Branch of the Department follows hereon, together with a report on the operations of the Marine Biological Station .at Portobello. I have, &c, W. C. Smith, Secretary for Marine.

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