H— 34.

WOOL MANUFACTURERS' RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1938. Wool Manufacturers' Research Association Committee. —Mr. J. Evans (Chairman), Mr. W. R. Carey> Professor H. G. Denham, Mr. T. E. Donne, Mr. H. Lee, Dr. R. 0. Page, Dr. E. Marsden (Secretary). Director. —Professor F. G. Soper. A preliminary meeting of the Committee was held on 22nd July, 1937, at which general organization, staffing, and location of headquarters was discussed. By the 20th October an agreement had been reached with the University of Otago for the housing of the research staff within the Chemistry Department of the University, for full use of the library, and for the assistance of certain Departments of the University, as needed, more particularly those of chemistry and of bacteriology. Further, a Research Chemist, Mr. R. V. Peryman, M.Sc., and a Secretary-Typist, Miss F. D. Davies, M.H.Sc., had been selected, and applications had been called in England, Australia, and New Zealand for a Textile Research Officer. Mr. Peryman and Miss Davies took up their duties at the end of November. Dr. S. Townend was appointed as Textile Officer, following reports received from an English Selection Committee. Dr. Townend, who has had English and American wool research experience, will take up the appointment on Ist May, and will spend some time in Great Britain and on the Continent before leaving for New Zealand. Visits were paid by the Director during August and October to eleven New Zealand woollen-mills, and lines of work were discussed. Arising out of these visits, work was started on the raw-wool scouring process. A close study of this has been made by Mr. Peryman in three mills, and detailed reports, with recommendations, have been submitted to the mills concerned. As a direct result of work done on raw-wool scouring one mill has been able to effect a large saving in scouring-material and improvement of the scoured wool. This work is proceeding, and approximately one week is beingspent with each mill in testing the process, examining the water-supply, and studying faults in the dyeing and finishing of yarn and cloth. Simultaneously, analyses of the amount of alkali in the scoured wool have been carried out in the laboratory. In addition to this study of raw-wool scouring, various service problems have been submitted by the mills, involving diagnosis of stains, of the cause of rotting of certain bathing-costumes, and of the formation of holes. The foreign matter in a sample of zeolite from a water-supply has been examined, and a method of cleansing the zeolite tested. In co-operation with the Bacteriology Department of the University, work has been started on the relation of scouring methods to resistance to bacterial attack, and this work is to be extended in the future towards further examination of the protection against such attack, an important problem in connection with swimming-costumes. Bulletins have appeared monthly dealing with some general item of interest. Subjects covered to date have been : unshrinkable wool, scouring, and protection against moths. It is noteworthy, and. not generally realized, that woollen goods can now be processed at relatively low cost in such a way that, though quite odourless, they are immune from moth-attack. Moth eggs and larvae placed in contact with the cloth fail to develop and no damage results. In concluding this report of the initiation of the New Zealand Woollen Manufacturers' Research Association, reference must be made to a most important asset —the spirit of whole-hearted cooperation shown towards it by the various woollen-mills. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH BUREAU. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1938. Social Science Research Committee. —Mr. Evan Parry, LL.B. (London), Barrister and Solicitor, (Chairman) ; Mr. F. B. Stephens, M.A., 8.C0m., Department of Internal Affairs (Vice-chairman) ; Dr. C. E. Beeby, M.A., Ph.D., Director, New Zealand Council for Educational Research ; Professor H. Belshaw, M.A., Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Auckland University College ; Dr. Elizabeth Gregory, M.H.Sc., Ph.D., Home Science Department, University of Otago ; Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, M.8., Ch.B. (Edin.), Director of School Hygiene, Department of Health ; Mr. E. H. Langford, M.A., Private Secretary to the Hon. the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research ; Mr. George Lawn, M.A., Economic Adviser and Director, Reserve Bank; Dr. E. Marsden, M.C., C.8.E., D.Sc., F.R.S.N.Z., Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Mr. T. H. McCombs, M.P., M.Sc., A.I.C. ; Dr. D. G. McMillan, M.P., M.8., Ch.B. ; Professor R. W. Souter, M.A., Ph.D., Professor of Economics, University of Otago ; Dr. W. B. Sutch, M.A., 8.C0m., Ph.D., SecretaryEconomist to the Hon. the Minister of Finance and Marketing ; Mr. D. 0. Williams, M.A., Director Bank of New Zealand ; Mr. Ormond Wilson, M.P., M.A. ; Mr. G. E. F. Wood, M.A., Census and Statistics Office ; Mr. W. T. Doig, M.Com., Secretary and Executive Officer. The Social Science Research Bureau has now been established for just over a year, and the progress made during that period has been very satisfactory. Apart from its own research projects, which are outlined below, the Bureau has been able to provide an information service for students, research workers, and others interested in social and economic research, and the fact that a large number of requests from both New Zealand and overseas for advice and information have been received is proof that a long-felt need in the field of social science research is being met. With the object of providing further information for those people interested, the Secretary has prepared a bibliography of social and economic research in New Zealand, which will be published as a bulletin. During the year the Bureau has been indeed fortunate in. securing, through the generosity of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the services of Professor J. H. Kolb, Professor of Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin, United States of America, who is acting in an advisory capacity

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