10 Oct., 1917.] Commonwealth Advisory Council oj Science, &c. 627 



however, been t'ouud to pifsciit im unsolved scientific or technii-iil 

 problems, the ditlieulties being mainly fiscal or economic. One matter 

 of special importance is the production of fertilizers, especially of 

 potash, for tlie supply of which Austialia was dependent before the war 

 on the deposits at Strassfiirt, Germany. Various sources of potash, 

 inchiding alunite, kelp, suint, molasses, and wood ashes luive been con- 

 sidered, and a Special Committee investigating the production of potash 

 from the deposits of alunite in New South Wales and South Australia 

 has almost completed its work. Among other chemicals dealtwith may 

 be mentioned Innoline, cream of tartar, copper sulphate, casein, pepsin, 

 rennet, starch, glucose, and indu.strial alcohol. 



In the manufacturing industries special attention has been given 

 to the im]n-uvenient in tanning methods, paper making, the utilization 

 of posidonia fibre (of which there arc immense deposits in Spencer's 

 and St. Vincent's gulfs. South Australia), pottery, and clays, the manu- 

 facture of solid-drawn cylinders for holding compressed gases, the design 

 and manufacture of alcohol engines, the sterilization of milk, and the 

 fermenting power of yeast. In regard to the last-named, the results 

 already obtained afford hope that they may have an imjjortant bearing 

 on the solution of the day-baking trouble by reducing the time of the 

 dougji in the trough. 



In the I'cport considerable importance is attached to the question 

 of standardization, and in this connexion a beginning has been made by 

 the temporary organization in regard to — (a) Analytical methods in 

 the chemical industry; (6) The design of scientific apparatus; (c) The 

 api)raisemcnt of alcohol in spirituous liquors; {d) The metric system 

 and decimal coinage; and (e) Standardization in the electrical industry. 



One of the important functions. of the proposed permanent institute 

 is the establisliment of a Bureau of Information. The temporary 

 organization has made a beginning in this direction by appointing a 

 science absti'actor, who has been engaged in preparing abstracts, biblio- 

 graphies, and card indexes of references to articles in scientific and 

 technical journals. A room at the Public Library has been placed at 

 the disposal of the Committee by the Trustees. 



A report from each of the State Committees is included in the report 

 of the Executive. These State Committees play a very important part 

 in the work of the Advisory Council. The total expenditure incurred by 

 the Council up to the 30th June last is £3,593. 



Many large problems to which the Executive Committee have given 

 consideration — such as the tick-pest and the nodule disease in cattle, and 

 the utilization of forest products — involve issues that are too large and 

 complex to enable them to be further dealt with efliciently under the 

 existing temjiorary organization with its limited financial powers and 

 executive authority. Moreover, action in connexion with certain of 

 these matters can be carried out by the Federal Government only with 

 the co-operation of the State authorities, so that the relations between 

 the proposed permanent institute and these authorities must be deter- 

 mined before any comprehensive lines of action can be adopted. 



In conclusion, it is pointed out that the Executive and State Com- 

 mittees have largely performed the functions for which the temporary 

 Advisory Council was created, and have thus prepared the way for the 

 work of the permanent institute. 



