SCIENTISTS IN CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1023, 12 January 1911, Page 5

SCIENTISTS IN CONGRESS.

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. DR. MAWSON URGES NEED FOR EARLY EXPEDITION. NEW ZEALAND PAPERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association ■ Copyright) (Rec. January 11, 11.10 p.m.) Sydney, January 11. The proceedings of the Science Congress wore continued at the University to-day! Dr. Mawson (South . Australia) read a paper on the Antarctic. . After reviewing tho work of the Antarctic explorers, Dr. Mawson dealt with his own proposed expedition. He declared that Australians lvere just as well able to boar the rigorous conditions of high latitudes as those born there; If ever. an Australian expedition" was started it., would be under tho most, favourable .circumstances with "its' future well assured.An immediate. start was, necessary, for any delay would enable a foreign nation to slip in, and the most" valuable portion of Antarctica would, be lost for ever from the control of Australia. An expedition would stimulate the spirit of maritime enterprise which was an indispensable elemont to national greatness. Ho would be fully prepared to start in November. The wort 'would take 17 months, or one winter and two. summers, or possibly, two.winters and three'sum r mors. Tho doctor estimated the cost at .£40,000. He appealed to wealthy. Australians to assist, . and y asked: , Could the scientific societies remain content to . allow distant .countries. to poach on' their inherited reserves;..could Australians remain heedless of this land of.great potentialities lying at their doors?

Mr. H. Braddon, in a paper on the compulsory principle in the settlement of industrial disputes, reviewed the effect of tho principle in New Zealand and Australia. So far "as Australia was concerned the 'Arbitration Acts had resulted in . repressing' sweating and materially benefiting the conditions of the employees, but it was unfortunato that the Acta also tended to embitter tho relations between employees and' employees. As a means of preventing . strikes, Wages. Boards were greatly preferable to an Arbitration Court, but even a Wages Board ,was not likely to be of much use in that direction in periods of declining prosperity, and when its awards we're averse to tho men.

Mr.: Potts, Principal of the Hawkcsbury Agricultural College''(N.S.W.), read a paper on tho necessity for education in agriculture.. He urged the value of a connecting link between tho public schools and the agricultural colleges and Vinter schools, ■ for farmers.

•'Mr. Bavin (Sydney), in a paper on tho Federal system of government, concluded that, notwithstanding the imperfections of a Federation, nnii nil its weaknesses, it was infinitely preferable to separation and independence among States which were capable of some degree, of union;

Professor Marshall (New Zealaiid) : contributed an interesting paper on the Geology of the Cook and Society Islands.

Mr. C. E. Adams (New Zealand) road a paper on tidal observations, predictions, arid control, with reference to the' Wellington tide gauge.

Many other papers of a purely scientific or local interest were discussed 'in the various sections.