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Appendix C.
GOVERNMENT LABORATORY. Report on work done during the year 1933. by
Mr. V. C. Branson-Government Analyst.
The work of the Government Laboratory can be divided into three main classes.
(1) Official Work, i.e. work for the Government from other Government Departments and for which the Laboratory primarily exists.
(2) Semi-official Work, i.e. work done by the Laboratory by virtue of its being a Government Department, e.g. work from the Naval and Military Authorities etc. Fees are charged for this work. In the case of the Naval and Military Authorities, the work is charged at half rate only.
(3) Unofficial Work, i.e. work done by the Laboratory for outside firms in competition with private consulting analysts and for which full fees are charged.
The total number of samples dealt with under all three heads for the year 1933 was 3,296 against 2,627 for 1932.
The following tables show the nature of the work under the three heads.
Official Work.
Chemico-Legal Samples, from the Police & Medical Departments.... 1933. 1932. Food & Drug Samples under the Ordinance, from the Sanitary Department. 227 146 Water Samples, from Public Supplies...... 118 941 Dangerous Goods under the Ordinance from the Police Department and Fire Brigade 104 1,372 Bio-chemical Examinations, from the Medical Department & University... 33 11 Materials from various Departments for testing:- 254 184 Oils from P. W. D. 10 17 Coals from P. W. D., Harbour Department & K. C. R. 201 211 Building Materials from P.W.D...... 4 2 Foodstuffs from Medical Dept. 14 6 Pharmaceutical Samples from Government Apothecary 6 — Chemicals from Medical Department, P. W. D., etc.... 10 32 Battery Acids from P. W. D. 4 — Miscellaneous Investigations 22 24 2,261 1,692