To see "science at work" I advise a tour of the Dominion Laboratory, no further away than Sydney Street, Wellington, where, uninviting in appearance and inefficient in some respects though it may be, chemists are working hard for the benefit of the community. Tinned and other foods are analysed in search of hidden defects; experiments are made with and tests on paint, investigating endurance and other qualities; improvements in quality and uses of bitumen are tried; these are only three of the thousand and one problems tackled by the Dominion Laboratory.

Across the road is the Fisheries Laboratory, where the habits of New Zealand's economically important and other fishes are studied. To the superficial observer, an examination of the life history and habits of the cod, for instance, may appear a waste of time, but it is this research which enables our supplies of eating fish to be maintained. The Agriculture Department is also close by. There we find the discoveries of soil deficiencies, the experimenter in suitable and productive varieties of grain for this country, and those attempting to establish the best grasses for the beat area for the best result.