8.—4 A

1183. The Department acts under the advice of a Research Council, not exceeding nine in number, appointed by the Govern or-General in Council. At present it consists of eight members, representing various branches of science, industry, and commerce. The services given by the members of the Council are largely honorary, the Chairman being authorized to receive an honorarium of £100 and each member (except Government officers) £50 per annum, with a reduction of 10 per cent, in all cases. 1184. The Council has authority to set up special honorary sub-committees, consisting of members of the Council, together with other representatives of sectional contributing interests, to deal with and report on special activities. 1185. At present the following sub-committees are in operation : — Secondary Industries Committee. Dairy Research Committee. Wheat Research Committee. Fruit Research Committee. Plant Research Committee. Entomological Research Committee. Leather and Pelt Research Committee. Flax Research Committee. Similar overseas Research Councils consist of —in England, eleven members ; in Canada, fifteen members ; in Australia, eleven members : with sub-committees as in New Zealand. 1186. The Empire Marketing Board co-operates with the Research Department by providing substantial subsidies towards the prosecution of research work that has an Empire significance, such as dairy and fruit research, plant-breeding, mineral content of pastures, &c. 1187. Sectional industries concerned also subsidize the work of the Department generally on a £l-for-£l basis. As a rule, industrial research investigations are not undertaken by the Department unless such contributions can first be arranged for. 1188. The following table shows the gross cost of research activities, less contribution from Empire Marketing Board and sectional interests, and the net cost to the State for 1931-32 : —■

1189. The net cost of all services carried out by the Department (including interest and depreciation) since its inauguration in 1927-28 is as shown hereunder :■ —

1190. The net cost of all services for 1931-32 will show a further reduction of approximately £9,000. 1190 a. The expenditure in connection with such services as the Dominion Laboratory, "Dominion Observatory, Geological Survey, and the Meteorological Office do not call for particular comment.

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Gross Cost, less ri , , Sales Contributions. Net. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Flax research . . . . . . . . 638 2 7 202 13 9 | 435 8 10 Fruit research . . .. . . .. 1,854 6 1 463 15 1 1,390 11 0 Fuel research .. .. .. 1,526 3 11 1,347 7 1 178 16 10 Dairy research .. .. .. .. 10,834 1 0 6,228 17 7 4,605 3 5 Leather research .. .. .. .. 1,108 10 9 410 0 0 698 10 9 Pelts .. .. .. .. .. 145 10 4 65 0 0 80 10 4 Mineral content of pasture? .. . 2,120 17 1 2,000 0 0 120 17 1 Noxious weeds .. .. .. .. 1,305 13 9 627 18 4 677 15 5 Plant research .. .. .. .. 4,490 3 2 2,753 8 7 1,736 14 7 Wool research .. . . . . .. 351 19 8 29 19 9 321 19 11 Soil survey .. .. .. .. 1,110 6 6 344 15 9 765 10 9 Wheat research .. .. .. .. 3,850 9 8 2,012 14 10 1,837 14 10 ! 29,336 4 6 16,486 10 9 | 12,849 13 9 • I r

1927-28. 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. £ £ £ £ Head Office .. .. .. .. 7,353 9,082 7,479 11,132* Research investigations .. .. .. 8,270 18,765 23,827 17,109 Dominion Laboratory .. .. .. 12,410 12,408 13,258 12,151 Dominion Observatory .. .. .. 2,602 2,794 2,961 2,804 Geological Survey .. .. .. 8,103 7,608 8,488 7,629 Meteorological Office .. .. .. 7,617 8,506 10,064 8",748 Petrological Laboratory . . .. 557 779 397 273 46,912 59,942 66,474 59,846 I- ■ * Includes special grant of £2,500 to Mawson Antarctic Expedition and £194 in respect of Buildings Regulations Committee.