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With, the demobilization of technical and other staffs and the return of Departments to their normal activities, it is anticipated that good progress can be expected and maintained in the extension of these fundamental studies and investigations. The Council believes that it is its duty, before embarking on large-scale soil•conservation or river-control measures, to collate all existing information and put this into practice to the best advantage, having in mind the particular conditions as to vegetal cover, soil type, climate, &c., that apply; contemporaneously, by small trials and research, to undertake investigations into as many different types of problem land as possible, with a view to finding improved techniques to be put into practice as information becomes available. The Council is planning and inaugurating this long-time programme, integrating into a single enterprise for the national welfare all workers on the problem—departmental, local body, and farmers —so that our national resources can be preserved in order to hand on to the coming generations what we have enjoyed and, indeed, something better. Educational and Publicity Work Progress in the development of the Council's programme of educational and publicity work has been confined to the preparation of bulletins, press articles, film strips, and movie films. Three bulletins were published during the year. The Council has now published the following : Bulletin 1 : " The Menace of Soil Erosion in New Zealand." Bulletin 2 : " Tackling High Country Problem Land." Bulletin 3 : " From Forest to Farm Land." Bulletin 4 : " First Steps in Soil Conservation." Further bulletins are in course of preparation as follows : " Down to the Sea in Slips " —the problems in the East Coast area of the North Island. " Use of Willow and Poplar for River Protection." " Soil Conservation " —methods applicable to the farm lands of New Zealand. " Glossary of Terms : Hydrologic and Associated Soil and River Engineering Terms." The policy of distributing bulletins to Catchment Boards, farmers, local authorities, schools and colleges, libraries, banks, stock and station agents and "kindred overseas organizations on an exchange basis, has been continued with gratifying results. Three' additional film strips, two being in natural colour, have been prepared and circulated to Catchment Boards, schools, colleges, and learned societies for teaching purposes and are available to field officers for lecturing purposes. There has been an increasing demand by various organizations throughout the country for showings of 16 mm. cinematograph films. The Public Works Department has photographed and produced for the Council five topical soil erosion and conservation sound films, three being in natural colour. Production of further films showing district problems is in hand. Arrangements have now been completed for the first mobile cinema unit to undertake a planned itinerary of three weeks' duration in each catchment district. In each district the Catchment Board is organizing the screenings to suit local bodies, Federated Farmers, and Young Farmers' Clubs by night and district-high and secondary schools by day. If theatres or halls are not available, the unit can show, by means of its daylight screen, to audiences in the open either in daylight or dark. The unit can supply its own

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