McNaught, Dr Kenneth John Biography 1991

McNAUGHT, Dr Kenneth John
Retired Agricultural research Scientist; Philatelic Researcher and Writer
Born Dargaville, 22 April 1913; son of John Reid McNaught and Margaret Hazlett (née Cousins); married Ella Kate Forster, daughter of Henry Beckwith and Grace Forster, 1942
Educated: Hastings Central School; Napier Boys High School, Wairarapa College; Victoria University
Bachelor of Science 1933 (John P Good prize in Maths 1931; Senior Scholar in Geology and Sir George Grey Scholar 1933, Sir Robert Stout Scholar 1934), Master of Science 1935 (Jacob Joseph Research Scholar 1935), Doctor of Science (by exam) 1969; Fellow, NZ Institute of Chemistry 1970, fellow, NZ Institute of Agricultural Science 1975
Home Defence,  Headquarters Staff, 2^nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment, in charge Anti-Gas Unit, Carterton (Acting Lieutenant); recalled to work on conservation of milking-machine rubberware
Analytical Chemist, working mainly on diagnosis of cobalt deficiency in sheep, cattle (developed method of determining the minute amounts of cobalt in deficient tissues), Chemist Lab, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 1935-45 (Ruakura, Hamilton 1945); worked on mineral nutrition of plants, Rukuhia Soil Research Station, Department of Agriculture, Hamilton 1946-73 (retired); pioneered use of plant analysis for all essential elements in departments soil fertility advisory services; work on glasshouse tomato soils of specific importance; first to diagnose phosphorus deficiency, Riverhead pine plantations; Horticulture Liaison Officer 25 years, providing technical information to horticultural advisory officers; involved also in fertiliser, soil aspects of grass staggers research, successfully predicting sodium deficiency in cows on lucerne diet; Delegate Australia & New Zealand Association for the  Advancement of Science Conference, Hobart 1949, International Grasslands congress, Queensland 1970; presented extensive collection of Jurassic fossils, collected Kawhia region, to geological Survey 1970
Philately: Fellow, Royal Philatelic Society of NZ 1948, Fellow, Royal Philatelic Society of London 1973; Vice-President, Royal Philatelic Society NZ 1969-87, President 1988-, Life member; Vice-President, Postal Historical Society of NZ 1964-69, Patron 1969-; Committee Member, Waikato Philatelic Society 1945-, most years as Vice-President, President 3 years, Life Member 1975, Patron 1977-; first recipient, Federation of NZ Philatelic Society’s Award of Honour 1962; Royal Philatelic Society of NZ Collins Award 1970, Rhodes Medal 1977; elected to sign Roll of Distinguished Philatelists, Congress of GB, 1978; judged all NZ national exhibitions 1950- and judge in Australia; Honourable Juror, NZ 1990 International Exhibition, Auckland
Publications: Chapter on plant analysis in Ruakura Technical handbook, 1969; many scientific papers; Philately: technical Editor, major contributor, Volume Vl The postage Stamps of new Zealand 1977, Editor, contributor, Volume Vll 1988, contributor chapters in Volume Vll 1950, lV 1964, V 1967; many philatelic research papers
Address: 627 Grey Street, Hamilton.