SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 3

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

ACTIVITIES OF NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute on Saturday there I were a number of references to the lnstitutq's activities iu connexion with scientific research. The Standing Committee of tho Institute, in its annual re port, stated -that in March last the conjjnittee usiitd the Minister of internal Affairs for information concerning the report of the Institute's Scientntc aud Industrial .Research Committee, which had been sent to the .National Kiiiciency Board, and asked whether the committee sei. up by tliu New Zealand Institute, in cunjonctiou with the Director of the Dominion Museum, could now proceed with the propo6cd census of industries in terms of the following resolution: "That the committee, having heard that the Minister is prepared to take steps at an early date to inaugurate a Dominion scheme of scientific and industrial research, by making a preliminary census ol past research, actual problems of industry awaiting ! solution, and of available laboratories I and research workers, advises that the Director of the Dominion Museum should undertake such census, being supplied by the Minister with speci-ally-qualified assistance, and that a committee of the New Zealand Institute should co-operate with, him." The Minister replied that Cabinet had considered the report of the Efficiency Board, and it had been decided to cuhito this report amongst Ministers for their consideration. Ho promised to communicate again with tho Institute.

Respecting research work tho Research Grant Committee reported that Mr L. I\_ Symes, who was in lyio granted £50 through tho Philosophical Institute ol Canterbury for investigating the decay' of apples and otiier fruits in cold storage, reported on December i*3rd, 1918, that little pro-1 gress had been made, and no portion I I the vote has yet been expended. Tho [ grantee asked tuat the grant might bo continued for another year. Mr L. Bilks, who had been appointed to investigate tho electrical prevention of frost in orchards, had asked for an additional £30, over tho grant of allotted. Owing to a shortage oi stajf, it had been impossible to do anything last year. Messrs It. Speight and L. J. Wild, to ?i »• 'f° u ' as granted in 1916 through the Pnilosophical Institute of Canterbury for investigation of the phosphate limestones of Canterbury, had report--1 it/ oa tllo results of their work. Although this was reasonably complete, and not likely to be modified by (subsequent research, the grantees proposed to continue the investigation later.

Professor H. B. Kirk had given a j eport on the killing of mosquitoes and Jar vie. This confirmed the conclusions previously reported as to the value of light tar oil as a larvicide. Professor W. P. Evans, to whom TtrrP Iva , K .granted in 1918, through the J huosophical Institute of Canterbury for investigating New Zealand brown coats, reported that only preliminary vrol 011 *' ve, y small scale had been possiole. An experienced assistant at £2-50 per annum had now been secured, who woi.jlc! give his whole time to the work. The Board of Governors of Canterbury College had added £100 to this grant lor the year 1919, and had promised :m additional £150 for 19*20.. Proiessor Evans had requested that the srant of £200 might be carried on to

1 rofossor Chas. Chilton, to whom £o0 was granted in 1918. through tho Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, for investigating New Zealand flax (phormium), reported tliat although" the grant was made in his name tho investigations were carried out by Mrs B O Jennings, who has made considerable progress, more particularly in the direction of stdrting observations and experiments to test tho cause oi diseases affecting the flax, improved methods of cultivation, etc. There lias been a serious deterioration in the flax

crop in. some districts, involving losses of such commercial value that further

investigation is more necessary than over. A more detailed report had since been submitted by Mrs Jennings, through Dr. Chilton, intimating thnt she had been engaged by the Plaxniillers' Association to investigate the yellow leaf disease on ■which she submitted some information.

Some discussion ensued -respecting the investigations that have not been completed, but it was explained that ov/innc to war conditions some men capable of carrying out the investigations were not available, and those who were available had been kept busy with their ordinary duties. The report was adopted.