TRAINED MEN WANTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 44, 23 June 1947, Page 6

TRAINED MEN WANTED

FARMING OF THE FUTURE APPLICATION OF SCIENCE (By Professor W. Riddet, Massey Agricultural College) In all countries there is an ever-increasing need for trained technical agriculturists. In a country such as New Zealand, technical agriculture should offer the best of all openings to the cream of our University students. We find in practice, however, the deplorable fact that other phases of activity are attracting these men. I wish at this point to stress the influence that advances in agricultural science can exert in increasing the total and variety of production from the soil. In this connection we must never forget that (?Ur soils are a heritage which must be maintained intact, and any method of soil utilisation must be such that when we of the present generation are finished using the soil its fertility is never impaired—indeed, that it is raised to a level higher than that at which we found it. Scientific methods can achieve this. But in spite of the fact that agricultural education is now available in all countries, it is to be deplored that it is not used to better advantage. Farms and Scientists

On the one hand, many farmers in all parts of the world are too conservative to take advantage of advances in science and of education. This position is fortunately tending to improve amongst the rising generation.

On the other hand, governments, important public organisations and other bodies too frequently enter into long and short-term production and trade arrangements without previously obtaining the necessary scientific guidance as to their success in the future, and whether they are likely to be greatly affected by scientific advances. This latter aspect is exceedingly important, because definite knowledge is continuously in a state of flux and it is only those actively engaged in making advances who can indicate the probable trends iff the near or more distant future.

The scientific man needs really to be more than an adviser, to be used merely as and when those in executive positions think fit. If he is going to exert his full influence he must be part and parcel of the executive organisation, sharing with others full knowledge of all facts and the full responsibilities of their actions.

Industrialists Must Learn

What I have said with- respect to the place of science in agriculture applies with equal force to industry. Our industrial leaders still do not realise what enormous advances in science have been, and are being, made in the present century and the extent to which these affect society, trade and industry. They are not yet prepared to accept the man trained in science as their fellow-director, and too frequently enter into binding arrangements, which with scientific advice would never have been made, and which in the final analysis are harmful to themselves and the community. It is noteworthy that the most rapid technicological advances are always made in periods of war. Surely it is tragical to feel that it takes a war to make people realise what modern advances in knowledge can make available to a community! It is the duty of modern industry to take every advantage of scientific education up to and including the university level, and the university is failing in its duty if it is not offering such facilities to all branches of industry. These industrial questions are important to agriculture, because agriculture and industry must be co-ordinated to move forward together.