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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 6. 1966.

[scientific activities of the Public Service]

This article summarises the principal scientific activities of the Public Service.

D.S.I.R.: The largest scientific organisation in New Zealand, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, employs 500 scienoists. Its research activities are conducted in 23 divisions.

The Animal Ecology Division at Lower Hutt assesses the economic value of native and introduced mammals and birds, and investigates then control or preservation.

The Antarctic Division coordinates research at Scott Base which includes studying aurora and air-glow, geomagnetism, the ionosphere, meteorology and seismology.

The Applied Mathematics Division (Wellington) provides a research and advisory service in branches of applied mathematics of value to New Zealand's economy.

The Industrial Development Division (Auckland) has four functions: (1) to provide a research service for industry; (2) to promote research and advances in technology and their application to industry; (3) to ensure industry's scientific and engineering problems are efficiently investigated: and (4) to act as a source of technical advice and information for industry, the armed services, local bodies and government departments.

The Botany Division (Christchurch) covers all general aspects of plant life except the strictly economic.

The Chemistry Division (Lower Hutt), until 1964 the Dominion Laboratory, also has laboratories at Auckland. Christchurch and Dunedin. Activities include long-term research; acting as a central laboratory for chemical, metallurgical and chemical engineering needs of government departments; and helping to raise the efficiency of industry. The technical work of the division is divided into four sections: (1) Pesticides, foods and drugs; (2) Metallurgy, chemical engineering, coal: (3) Inorganic chemistry, and cement and concrete: (4) Paint and petroleum, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry.

The Crop Research Division at Lincoln (Christchurch) investigates improvement of field and vegetable crops. There is a hop research station at Motueka and a tobacco research station at Riwaka.

The Entomology Division (Nelson) investigates, characterises and classifies insects.

The Food Chemistry Division (Wellington' conducts research on the fundamental nature of foods.

The Geological Survey (Lower Hutt) has accumulated a vast store of knowledge about New Zealand's geology and mineral resources.

The Geophysics Division (Wellington' includes the Apia observatory, where earthquakes and variations in magnetic elements are recorded and interpreted, and physical oceanographlc data is recorded; the ionospheric geophysical 1aboratory at Christchurch; the geophysics laboratory. Lower Hutt; the gcothcrmal laboratory. Taupo; Time Service. Wellington; magnetic survey. Christchurch: and the selsmological observatory, Wellington.

The Grasslands Division (Palmerston North' is primarily concerned with breeding of pasture species, nucleus seed production and certification: ecology; and soil fertility.

The Institute of Nuclear Sciences (Lower Hult) measures radio-active fallout and carries out carbon-14 dating. A radiation source is used to irradiate seeds and plants for crop improvement; to sterilise soil and plastics; and to try to improve the cool-storage keening properties of apples.

The Oeeanographic Institute (Wellington) investigates ohyslcal. geological and biological aspects of the oceans around New Zealand.

The Physics and Engineering Laboratory (Lower Hutt) covers many activities, ranging from maintaining primary electrical and radio standards to fundamental investigations into the physics of plant growth.

At the Plant Chemistry Division (Palmerston North) studies are made of the chemistry, nutrition and metabolism of plants. The influence of climate on crop yields is studied at the Plant Physiology Division, also at Palmerston North.

The Plant Diseases Division and the Fruit Research Division at Auckland assist farmers. fruitgrowers, nurserymen and gardeners to produce healthy crops and plant products.

At the Soil Bureau (Lower Hum New Zealand and some Pacific island soils are studied.

Eleven research organisations are jointly financed by the Government and the industry concerned. with their own laboratories and staffs. They deal with meat, fertiliser, leather, pottery. laundry, dairy, wool (two), wheat, tobacco and hops.