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subjects of special importance, and are able to provide advance information on the more outstanding researches conducted overseas. This information assists the Department in formulating and modifying its own research programmes, and in avoiding unnecessary expenditure, through undue overlapping, on the work undertaken elsewhere. The liaison officers can readily make available to New Zealand workers the results of a vast amount of research, much of which is on a scale quite beyond the normal resources of smaller organizations. LONDON The Scientific Liaison Office, London, is established in association with the British Commonwealth of Nations Scientific Offices —an arrangement which secures ready cooperation between the various Dominion and United Kingdom scientific liaison officers and the use of common clerical and other services. Dr. E. Marsden, who is in his second year as our Scientific Adviser, London, has been Chairman of the 8.C.5.0. House Committee this year. An Assistant Scientific Liaison Officer was appointed in i 948. The Office has had a busy year as, apart from the growing number of scientific inquiries and reports handled, arrangements were made for official visitors to and from New Zealand (including the United Kingdom delegation to the Seventh Pacific Science Congress). Dr. Marsden attended several International and Commonwealth Scientific Congresses and two International Standards Congresses. Applications were handled for a large number of professional and technical vacancies in the Department in New Zealand, which were advertised in the British press. WASHINGTON The New Zealand Scientific Liaison Office in Washington, D.C., is likewise associated with the 8.C.5.0. The Washington establishment will shortly be up to full strength, with two Scientific Liaison Officers: one, the senior, being appointed on a semi-permanent basis for a term of approximately six years initially, and the second officer on a basis of replacement after eighteen months. MELBOURNE A senior officer continues to represent the Department as Scientific Liaison Officer, Melbourne. He returned to New Zealand in May, 1948, for a month's renewal of contacts with affairs here. WELLINGTON The Scientific Liaison Section at Head Office has been put on a better footing by the appointment of an assistant to the Scientific Liaison Officer, who has other duties in addition to responsibility for the scientific liaison services. SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL SECTION As in the past, considerable difficulty was experienced during the year under review in recruiting scientific officers for the more senior posts, certain of these positions were accordingly advertised in the United Kingdom. Sufficient applicants were, in general, available within New Zealand to fill vacancies for junior graduates and for technical trainees. A number of bursaries were awarded during the year by the Public Service Commission to enable several of the most promising technical trainees to continue or complete a University degree under more favourable conditions. In addition, a limited number of bursaries were awarded as a method of assisting the Department in recruiting technical trainees with high academic records.

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