SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

WORK OF DEPARTMENT GOOD PROGRESS REPORTED An interesting survey of the work of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was made by Mr. Q. Donald, acting-chairman of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, at last meeting. “A special meeting of the council was held on December 14 to confer with the Right Hon. L. S. Amery, Secretary of State fcr Dominion Affairs, and to discuss with him the various research activities in New Zealand, and their relation to the activities of the Empire Marketing Board,” said Mr. Donald. "With the completion of the new Biological Laboratory and Insectary at the Cawthron Institute, which was officially opened by Mr. Amery, much better facilities are now provided-for study of the activities of parasitic insects upon. noxious weeds. The laboratory and insectary are well designed and constructed, and reflect credit upon all concerned. Unfortunately, the recent bad summer in the Northern Hemisphere was responsible for reducing the number of useful insects which normally would be secured. Work in consequence was somewhat handicapped by lack of supplies from overseas. However, good progress is reported with the insects under test, and, in regard to a ragwortfeeding moth, the necessary trials on economic plants are nearly completed, and promise early success. Loss of Dr, Tillyard. "Dr. Tillyard, who has had charge of the Noxious Weeds Research, has been .appointed to the charge of Entmological Research for the Australian Commonwealth Research Council, and will be severing his connection with the Cawthron Institute during the present month. This means a serious loss to the development of the Noxious Weed Research, whiijh has progressed so well under his enthusiastic and capable direction. Steps are under consideration for the appointment of his successor, but I am pleased to report that arrangements have been made, by which Dr. Tillyard’s services will be retained in an advisory capacity. “Mr. B. C. Aston, chief chemist to the Department of Agriculture, has worked steadily on problems of mineral deficiency, and now, with the return of .dr. T. Rigg, and the approaching completion of training of Mr. Grimmett, arrangements are in hand for a more con-centrated-attack on these problems. "Several proposals with reference to growing ana testing of wheat will be laid before you for consideration. I earnestly hope that the negotiations for commencement of activities of the proposed Wheat Research Station will be completed successfully. Information regarding the equipment of the laboratory has been- secured, and a report as to the work of the British Flourmillers’ Research Asscxiiation. "The vitamin investigations of New Zealand butter, carried out on behalf of the Empire Marketing Board, and to conjunction with the Lister Institute, have been proceeding satisfactorily. The Dairy and Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture have co-operated in collecting the specified boxes of butter, and in conducting the requisite pasture and herd examinations. "Advice has been received from Dr. McDowall, dairy research chemist, regarding investigational work'in progress in England. Dr. Stenhouse Williams , has kindly granted permission, and made facilities available for Dr. McDowall to carry out work for some time at the National Dairy Research Institute at Reading. "The British Selection Committee, with Dr. Reakes, have recommended the appointment of Mr. H. R. Whitehead, M.Sc., Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, to the position of dairy research bacteriologist. . This recommendation has been approved by the Dairy Research Management Committee. After intensive specialised courses at Kilmarnock and Reading, Mr. Whitehead is expected to arrive in New Zealand in time for the next dairy season. Seed and Plant Research. "The council’s representations to the Empire Marketing Board regarding financial assistance for the seed and plant research have been successful, -the board having voted a grant of dBS(X> for capital expenditure, together with ,£2500 for maintenance purposes for a period of five years. Negotiations regarding the establishment of this research will be entered into with the Department of Agriculture and with the controlling authorities of the Agricultural College. The research work deals with matters of vital importance to New Zealand’s farm crop and pasture problems, and the council realises what great economic advantages will arise from its active prosecution. The organisation of the work and its connection with the field work in New Zealand and work in Great Britain and elsewhere is a question requiring your most serious consideration, and suggestions will be placed before you. "Valuable work at present is being continued into problems of the phormium industry. During the flowering period Dr. Yeates has flushed on with his researches into the characters of the various strains of flax and the crossing of various varieties. Mr. P. W. Aitken is investigating further bleaching processes, and is elaborating other methods devised by him for the practical treatment of larger quantities of fibre on a commercial basis. At the present time steps are also being taken to devise a system of fibre strength testa so that valuable information may be readily secured upon the strength of different fibres and the influence that various processes exert upon this strength. “Samples of material spun from phormium fibre have been received from Sir Amos Nelson, a North British spinner, and reveal great possible po tentialities. At present these samples are being submitted to careful expert inspection. of leather manufacturers have been held, and the scientific problems of the industry have been thoroughly discussed. Negotiations are still in progress regarding the formation of a research association. The construction of a special testing machine, which will enable wearing qualities of various leathers to be measured, has been commenced. New Processes. , "As the result of investigations, new processes have been elaborated whereby certain products of meat works which, on account of excessive salinity, were useless, can now be saved and utilised for the manufacture of pig and poultry feeds. The new process, which involves the use of sodium nitrate, makes possible very considerable saving in time, the preparation of a standardised product, and eliminates the waste which hitherto prevailed. Details of the dry-rendering of. meat prooess have also been elaborated, and this may make a considerable advance in the meat industry. At present the question of an alternative preservative process to replace the bone preservative bithertou used in bacon-curing is receiving attention. "The impotant questions relating to the value of various supplementary stock feeds used in the Dominion, which for some time past have engaged the attention of Dr. J. Malcolm, will be continued under his direction by Miss Airini Pope, who has now taken up her duties at the Otago Medical Schoo) and already has made a survey of all the available publications dealing with stock nutrition problems. This work ■ will have important bearings, firstly, in evaluating the new feeds prepared from 1 waste products, and, secondly, in as. ' sisting those experimenters such as Mr. ’ Scott, of Lincoln College, who, has been dealing with animal nutirition 1 trials. A bulletin’ by Mr. Scott on ’ the result of his nig-feeding experiments ’ will be issued during the next fort, i night." '