THE twenty-seventh annual report of the National Research Council (Canada), for 1943–44, includes the report of the acting president, Dr. C. J. McKenzie. the financial statement for the year ended March 31, 1944, and reports from the directors of the several divisions, amplifying the information contained ir the preliminary review of the work of the Council already issued (see Nature, 155, 737; 1945). Referring to the broader aspects of post-war planning for scientific research, Dr. McKenzie's report states that in a brief review of research programmes in Canada, Great Britain, United States and the U.S.S.R. it was observed that Canada had hitherto been largely a search importer, and that the Dominion's pre-war per capita expenditure of research was far below that of other industrial nations. It is suggested that Canada, through its National Research Council, should maintain in the immediate post-war years a programme of research equal to, or greater than, the present war research effort, which is five times as great as that of the pre-war years. Consideration has been given to a long list of topics suggested as subjects for research in the post-war period, and suitable action indicated. Among many new problems suggested to develop the natural resources of the Dominion or to improve living conditions of the people may be mentioned road research, housing and building research, transport by air, rail, road and water, cold weather and northern latitude problems and the utilization of agricultural crops and products of the forest. Research is recommended on the construction, heating, lighting etc., of small homes, the development of cheap refrigeration units for farm homes, cold-storage locker systems for farms, and farm equipment including plumbing and farm-power units.