HELP TO INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 2

HELP TO INDUSTRY

Importance Of Scientific Resources NEEDS OF ARMED FORCES The importance of scientific assistance to industry and how this liad been revealed in a number of directions in New Zealand 1 during the past year are referred to by the Minister in charge of the Scientific and Industrial Researcii Departmen’t, Mr. Sullivan, in the annual report of the department. He states that during the year it has been possible to make the maximum use of the Dominion’s scientific resources, both of -personnel and of equipment in connexion with a very wide range of problems associated with the needs both of the lighting forces and the civilian population. In addition, it has also been found possible to provide help by way of scientific personnel loaned to Great Britain, Australia, anti other parts of the Empire. ’ "The successful drying of low-grade butter and the preparation of dried butterfat of acceptable quality has enabled the shipment in unrefrigerated vessels of quantities of a valuable food material which previously could not be exported,’’ sair Mr. Sullivan. “Investigations in drying of meat have resulted iu the preparation of a foatlstuff which is acceptable to Gerat Britain, while dried vegetables produced experimentally have possessed quality eminently suitable for Service' requirements. The value of New Zealand species of seaweeds has been demonstrated for the production of agar of good quality, supplies of which from original sources were cut off as the result of the war.

“Valuable new information concerning the culture and curing of tobacco has been acquired and will promote, the sound development of this industry. The introduction of new non-shrinking treatment for woollen materials marks another noteworthy advance. Methods for tlie production locally iu bakeries throughout New Zealand of supplies of yeast have eliminated potential dangers which would arise in the baking industry through interruption of communications. Coal surveys and investigations have helped greatly toward maintaining a high output and securing optimum utilization of New Zealand’s coal resources during a time of national emergency. “Soil survey and grassland research are proving of direct advantage to the defence’forces through information relating to mapping, topography, aero-drome-main taince, and water-supplies, while a magnetic resufvey of the whole of the Dominion is providing data of immediate value in connexion with the war.

“There has been maintained through the scientific Services of the Department a very close contact with both military and industrial developments throughout the Empire. Many of these contacts had been established for some years, but during the past year, which has been beset with so many difficulties, their real worth, has been demontrated, and there has been built up a system of helpful co-operation. The free exchange of knowledge and the painstaking research by our scientists is the very basis of the Empire’s war effort and will be of great significance in our future industrial and social developments