SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2966, 3 January 1917, Page 6

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

6 THE EMPIRE'S TASK WHAT THE DOMINIONS MAY DO "The needs which led tlio Mother Country to formulate a scheme for the development of scientific and industrial research havo been realised with equal conviction, in other parts of the 10mliire," says the Committeo of the Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in a report prepared for the Imperial Government. This report, which was summarised in the Dominion last week, surveys tbo preparations that are being made in the United Kingdom for the development of 'national industries and the solving of problems of manufacture, in readiness for the trade war. The committee attaches a great deal of importanco to tho active cooperation of the Dominions, and tho following extracts show what las been done already in this direction: — "The Victorian Government, in a dispatch dated October 5, 1915, stated that they were desirous that.the scheme of research should be extended to the Dominions, in order that the State of Victoria, may.receive the benefit of this most important movement." The proposal was endorsed by the Premier of New South AVales, and the Coinmoawealth Government at a later, date decided to work out a scheme for the whole of Australia. A strong committee, appointed by the Commonwealth Government, reported in favour of the establishment of a National Itesearch Institute, under the charge of three directors, with aa advisory council, and the Government accepted the proposal in its main outlines. "Meantime the Committee of the Privy Council had submitted a memorandum to the Colonial Office for communication to the Dominions, .containInpc suggestions as to the various ways !)i whicn' the home organisation might co-operate with similar organisations in other parts of the Empire. During his recent visit to this country., Mr. Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia, attended one of our meetings. . . . On that occasion the great importance of the establishment of a central clearing house of information as to research, for tho service of tho whole Empire, was urged upon, us, and wo are prepared to do what wo can to supply this need. "In Canada a similar movement lias begun, and an Order-in-Council was issued on Juno 6 establishing machinery similar to that in tho United Kingdom for the encouragement of scientific and industrial research. ... The proposals of the Canadian Government arc based upon the conviction that each part of the Empire should organise its present machinery for research before attempting collaboration with tho Mother Country. The New Zealand Government also havo the matter under consideration, for they have referred the memorandum of tho Committee of Council to a board constituted under the Science and Art Act, 1913, for opinion and advice."