B.—4a,

Subdivision VII,— Petrological Laboratory. 1280. The total expenditure provided under this Subdivision for 1931-32 was £160. 1281. This work has been discontinued. Saving, £160. Subdivision YIII. —Apia Observatory. 1282. The total amount provided on this account for 1931-32 was £2,524, but the estimated recoveries amounted to £2,309. The net cost to the State is approximately £200, and we can recommend no saving on this Subdivision. Subdivision IX.— Magnetic Observatory. 1283. The amount provided for 1931-32 was £1,325, which represented only eight months' expenditure, as the Observatory was previously under the control of the Department of Lands and Survey. A larger sum will accordingly be required on the vote for 1932-33. General. 1284. We are impressed with the wide range of research investigations carried out. These may briefly be stated as follows : Cold-storage, dairy research, flax, fruit, fuel, leather, meat industry and products, mineral content of pastures, noxious weeds, plant research, wheat research, wool research, pakihi land investigation, kauri-gum ; and, in addition, other side lines of research may be opened up and prosecuted from time to time, with the approval of the Minister. 1285. We are of opinion that the activities of the Department are too widespread, and should be confined to a few of the more important lines of research of particular interest to the staple industries of the Dominion. In order of importance we would place the main lines of research upon which the Department should concentrate as follow : (1) Dairy research ; (2) plant research ; (3) fruit research. Summary. 1286. The savings recommended in this vote, so far as they can be assessed, are shown hereunder Subdivision I.—Head Office :— Item — £ £ Advertising, photographs, books, newspapers, &c. .. .. .. 25 Building Regulations Committee expenses.. .. •• 778 Liaison Officer, London .. .. ■ • ■ • • • ■ • 140 New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology .. .. ... 150 Office fittings and requisites . . • ■ • • • • • • 75 Postages, telegrams, rent of boxes .. . • • • • • 50 Printing and stationery .. . ■ ■ • • • • • • • 30 Research scholarships .. . • • • • • • • • • 400 - — 1,648 Subdivision ll—Research Investigations : — Item — Dairy Research — Equipment, apparatus, &c. .. .. • • ■ • • • 361 Expenses of officers travelling overseas .. .. • • 320 Grants .. .. • ■ • ■ • • • • • • 750 Library .. .. • • • • • • • • ■ ■ 60 Running-expenses .. • • ■ • • • • • • • 605 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. • • • • • • 50 2,146 Less possible reductions in grants .. .. 1,000 — 1,146 Flax .. .. •• •■ •• •• •• •• 350 350 Fruit — Reduction in expenditure .. .. • • • ■ • ■ 420 Levv on fruit exported .. .. • • • • • • 1 > 100 1,520 Imperial Agricultural Research Bureaux . . .. . • • • 588 588 Leather 402 402 Meat industry and products .. .. ■ • • • • • 10 10 Noxious weeds (ultimately £700) .. .. . • ■ • • • 350 350 Plant research .. .. • ■ • • • • • • • • 1 > 440 Less possible reductions in grants .. .. .. • • 720 720 Wheat research . . • • • • • • • • • • 500 500 Wool research .. .. ■ • ■ • ■ ■ • ■ • • 300 300 Pakihi land investigation .. . ■ • • • • • • 75 75 Canterbury Agricultural College .. . . • ■ • ■ • ■ 260 260 General — Grassland-management research . . .. • ■ • • 380 Miscellaneous .. . ■ • • • • • • • • 179 559

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