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Commonwealth. Close contact has been maintained with the research associations already formed, and secretarial assistance is provided for two. To ensure the maximum interest from industry and that the work is the most pertinent to the needs of industry, research associations are being encouraged to become incorporated. Progress in respect of the laundry, dry-cleaning, and dyeing industry has been slow as, although almost all institutional laundries have joined, a number of the larger commercial firms have withheld their support. Discussions regarding the application of research have, at the request of the industry, been held with the precast-concrete manufacturers. Scientific and Technological Service to Industry.—For the benefit of the industries which have not yet formed their own research associations, or to provide special services and facilities not elsewhere available to industry, the Committee has encouraged the laboratories of the Department to help manufacturers wherever possible and has kept in contact with the work done through its representation on the Advisory Committees of the Dominion Physical Laboratory and the Auckland Industrial Development Laboratories and through special reports made available to it.. Certain routine services are being maintained, of which manufacturers are taking considerable advantage. It is gratifying to report that, in addition to much scientific work which will undoubtedly be of general value to industry, 75 per cent, of the work of the Auckland Industrial Development Laboratories, 30 per cent, of the financial recoveries by the Dominion Physical Laboratories, and 30 per cent, of the working-time of the Dominion Laboratory are specifically in relation to requests from and assistance to industry. Particularly keen interest has been shown in the fuel efficiency service of the Dominion Laboratory (see page 27), which the Committee has continued to sponsor to the very great advantage of industry. Information Services.^-The Committee has encouraged manufacturers to avail themselves of the technical information coming to hand from overseas to the Department's Information Bureau, and has taken a keen interest in the Industrial Bulletin (see page 33). In conjunction with the Bureau, arrangements were made during the year for participation in industrial fairs in Christchurch and Wellington and the Otago Centennial procession. A long-range programme of research has been recommended to the Department, and the manufacturers' associations have been asked to suggest further long-range research projects of particular interest to industry. The Committee has maintained close connection with the Industrial Psychology Division and has also been represented on the Scientific Man-power Committee (see pages 12 and 38.) NEW ZEALAND POTTERY AND CERAMIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (INC.) The progress made during 1947 has been disappointing, due to lack of suitable premises and equipment. The laboratory work upon the eight clays chosen as most representative of those in general use has proceeded, the results having been reported in three technical reports. • The period following the arrival of the present Director at the beginning of September has been utilized in becoming thoroughly familiar with the personnel, factories, products, and raw-material deposits of New Zealand. The constitution has been reconsidered and redrafted to widen the activities and interests of the Technical Committee. This should give closer relations between the Research Association and its staff and the technical and production side of the industry. Visits have been made to all establishments of members of the Association for consultation. The main raw-material deposits have been examined, and considerable time has been spent in assessing the position here in New Zealand before undertaking any plan of research.

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