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Research (1) Reduction of Fatigue and Monotony.—The commencement of this research, which was carried out in a small factory engaged on light engineering, was noted in our first annual report. During the present year the task of sifting the data collected during the thirty-two-week investigation has been carried out. The beneficial effects both of music to reduce boredom resulting from repetitive tasks, and of good seating to reduce the fatigue of sedentary work, seem at least strongly suggested by an examination of the output curves. Output was recorded at half-hourly intervals throughout the experiment by means of counters fixed on the machines. A full report will be issued in due course. (2) Personnel Records. —The aim of this investigation was to ascertain what records relating to staff were being kept by some of the leading manufacturing firms in the Dominion, and to make recommendations as to the way in which personnel records should be kept. Visits were paid to some two dozen firms, and information was also obtained from Great Britain and Australia. The results of this investigation have been incorporated into a report which outlines a simple system of recordkeeping to suit the medium-sized manufacturing establishment. The report advocates the keeping of the following records : (a) an application form ; (b) an individual record card (including progress record) ; (c) a record of lost time (lateness, sickness, and other absence) ; (d) a record of accidents ; (e) a record of labour turnover (newcomers and leavers). . These records are recommended because experience has shown that efficient personnel-management is difficult without them ; and efficient personnel-management is necessary if the sources of friction and discontent, which so frequently disturb industrial relations, are to be removed. (3) A Study of Supervision.—An investigation covering some weeks in a medium-sized factory where morale was poor though working-conditions were good threw some interesting light on problems of management and supervision. The state of affairs in this workroom illustrated the truth that good working-conditions and humane intentions without good supervision do not bring either efficiency or contentment. Production certainly suffered as a result of lax control and weak discipline. (4) Student Employment in Essential Industry.—At the beginning of the 1944 university session a questionnaire was sent to university and training-college students who had worked in essentia] occupations during the previous summer vacation. The questionnaire was filled in by 1,126 students. The main aim of the investigation was to provide the university authorities with information about the utilization of student labour, and this was presented in a brief privately circulated report. An incidental result was a good deal of information about conditions of work in a variety of occupations. (5) The Girl Worker in Industry.—lnvestigations in a number of factories employing girl workers mainly on unskilled repetition work enabled us to collect together a good deal of material about the girl worker in industry in relation to this type of work. We believe that some employers are considerably puzzled by the attitudes and behaviour of their girl workers, and, for one reason or another, have a very imperfect insight into their mental outlook. There is room, therefore, for an objective and sympathetic account of the girl worker. Wo hope to publish our observations in the form of a report. (6) The Ventilation and Heating of Factory Buildings.—A duplicated report on this investigation was issued during the year (price 25.). A summary of some of the main conclusions was given in Bulletin No. 5 (June, 1944) issued by the Division. Education A course of twenty-four introductory lectures given by the Director at Victoria University College, and covering the whole field of industrial psychology, was well attended by men and women both in Government and private employment. The total enrolment for the course exceeded one hundred and fifty. A shorter course of twelve lectures by Dr. Winterbourn at Canterbury University College, Christchurch, drew an enrolment of seventy-eight persons and an average attendance of fifty. A written discussion course of fourteen lectures was also prepared by the Director and Dr. Winterbourn during the year under the auspices of the Tutorial Class Committee of Canterbury University College. The first run-off of some two hundred copies of this course was rapidly exhausted, and a second set of one hundred and fifty copies is now nearly disposed of. It has since been decided to publish the course in book form, and it should be on sale before the middle of this year (to bo published by A. W. Reed, Wellington, price 7s. 6d.). The bulletin, issued quarterly, has had a circulation of over six hundred copies per issue, mainly among New Zealand manufacturers. Lectures and addresses have been delivered by officers of the Division in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hastings. Service During the year work has been carried out for seventeen industrial concerns. This has included four extended investigations involving from two to four months' work each. A summary of the investigations carried out during the year follows : — (1) Clothing-factory. —This investigation covered a wide field. Advice was given on heating, ventilation, lighting, and seating. Approximately a quarter of the staff was interviewed in order to find out their reactions to the methods of supervision, working-conditions, and welfare facilities. The organization of executives was overhauled with a view to eliminating overlapping duties. The newly appointed personnel officer was given training in certain aspects of personnel-management. All prospective appointees to senior staff were examined for intelligence, temperament, and special aptitudes. Several problem employees were assisted towards a better adjustment. An investigation into faulty work was made and suggestions made for its reduction. Several operations were examined from a motion study angle with the dual objects of reducing fatigue and increasing output. In four operations production increased 85 per cent., 74 per cent., 55 per cent., and 29 per cent, respectively and the girls found that their work was easier. Largely as a result of an improvement of morale during the investigation, labour turnover decreased from 74-4 per cent, to 21-0 per cent, and absenteeism from 23-6 per cent, to 8-20 per cent.

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