SCIENCE MEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 5

SCIENCE MEN.

TOUR TO NEW ZEAJiAND,

THE NEQOTIATIONB,

INTERVIEW WITH PROS', LABY.

Interviewed last evening, i Professor Laby, who returned from the Australian Congress on Wednesday last, said that as previously announced in 1911 the New Zealand Government granted £2000 to enable some of the members of tho British Association to extend their visit from Australia to New Zealand, .but a number of difficulties hud to be surmounted so that 6uch a proposal could be carried out. In tho first pSace jthe members of the British Association were tho guests of' the Commonwealth Government, and were visiting Australia at that Government's special request, tho. expenses being defrayed by a grant of J!15,000. Further, the visit to Australia was of a very extended nature, as the British Association was to hold meetings in Adclaido, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. In theso circumstances any arrangements made to allow tho scientists to .ooine to New Zealand must bo such that they would not detract from the success of tho tour in Australia, and at tho same timo it was cloar that tho tour, which' included tho above-mentioned places and New Zealand, would be a very exhausting ono to the members of the British Association.

Tho promoters of .tlio visit to New Zealand decided to endeavour to make the congress a success by not depending wholly on the English' visitors, and suggested to the Government that some Canadian and Amerioan.scientists should also corno to Now Zealand. The success of this meeting, which it is proposed to hold in New Zealand in 1914, was mado possible even if the number of English scientists was not very large. t ' The Hon. H. D. Bell empowered Professor Kirk and Professor Laby to make provisional arrangements with tho Commonwealth Government regarding a visit to New Zealand of some of the members of tho British Association. These gentlemen met tho Commonwealth I'rimo Minister (Hon. A. Fisher) and Messrs. Pearco and Thomas, and they very generously agtced to support the invitation from tho Now Zealand Government to twenty-fivo members of the British Association to extend their visit to New Zealand. This arraiigemont was expressed in the following resolution which was proposed by tho Now Zealand representatives at a meeting of the council in charge of the Australian Arrangements: That the British Association be invited to nominate .25 members, of the official' party visiting Australia to extend their tour to New Zealand and to act as officers there after tho completion of the Sydney meeting on the understanding that tho Government of New Zealand will pay ,£3O towards the expenses of each of theso members (.£750 in all),- and that they fulfil scientific duties in New Zealand." This resolution was forwarded to the executive for favourable consideration.

The Commonwealth Government _ received most courteously tho suggestions of the New Zealand representatives, ami they felt that they could ask for such arrangements as it was known that the possibility of visiting New Zealand would bo a great inducement to English sclen-" lists. It would thus increase the attractiveness, of the tour and add to the sucr cess of tho wliolo meeting. These arrangements were provisional, and were subject to official approval in Australia and New Zealand. i

At the council meeting above mentioned there were present renresentatives from all the States of Australia and also from New Zealand, and they came from places as far apart as Wellington and Perth, which is an, indication of the interest taken in the arrangements for tho tour British Association in 1914. The 'Australian arrangements wero as follows Tho main party leave London by direct steamer on July 3,19U, and arrive at Adc laide on August 8 (tho advance party visiting , Western Australia for one week). They then visit Melbourno and Sydney and conclude there on August 27. The party visiting -Not Zealand will then depart for the Dominion, wliilo the remainder will proceed to Brisbane. Presidential addresses, meetings of the various sections, lectures. r<fceptions,' and excursions will be held in 'the Australian cities visited. The Commonwealth Government had appointed Mr. A. Ci D.< Rivett, 8.A., B.sc., lecturer in chemistry in the Melbourne University, and formerly a Rhodes scholar, as Organising secretary, and he proceeds to England shortly to make certain that the arrangements in every detail are eared for. The Commonwealth Government has set ..aside -£1000 for the expenses of this portion of tho arrangements. It was decided to ask'tho British < Association to favourably'consider tho inclusion of twenty eminent foreign scientists in amongst tho visitors. It was found that the arrangements for the reception of tho scientists were very in ' Australia, and during jthe congress in Melbourne an illustration was given for. the lleed for very, carefully though t-out arrangements., Professor Bnldwin Spencer gave a lecture in the Town Hall regarding his tour to tho Northern Territory, Which ho had just completed. The gathering was so large that tho'Gov-ernor-General found some ; difficulty in ■gaining admission, and a number ■ of ticket-holders could not get in, though tho hall is very large. In these circumstances every effort would have to be made to make adequate provision. Thp British Association had asbed that Hie proposed be placed before .it when it meets in' Birmingham in September.