SCIENCE TEACHING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 177, 22 April 1920, Page 6

SCIENCE TEACHING

CLAIMS OF VICTORIA COLLEGE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION A BUREAU OF STANDARDS? . The authorities at Victoria College are anxious; to provide better facilities for the teaching in the college of physical science. At present the provision for the proper teaching.of these subjects is quite nwdequate, and it is considered that in view of ,tho lessons of the war these snbjeots should receive more attention from all educational authorities than heretofore. A deputation from the College Council waited on the Minister of Education (Mr. C. J.. Parr) yesterday morning to make an appeal to him for the construction as nn additional wing of the present 'building of rooms to provido a nnw physics laboratory, a research room, accommodation for a bureau of standards, and one or. more lecture rooms. The approximate cost of the additions is estimated at i£2fi,ooo. The deputation was introduced by Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. Mr. Clement Watsan. chairman of tho council, submitted the requests to the Minister, pointing out that with the development of the application of science in this • country to such undertakings as hydro-electric schemes, the greater use of wireless, and the commercial use of aviation, nnd probably also to manufacturing industries, as well as to tho primary industries, more attention ought to be paid to physics in the university colleges, the only institutions in the country- in which the subject could be efficiently taught.

The Cinderella of Sciences. Professor Marsden said that in all the colleges it appeared that more prominence had been given to the observational than to the physical sciences. He urged that every boy had a right to an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of physical science, ivhich were at the bases of all Bciences. Certainly in this young country the physical sciences were not up to the standard of other countries. Provision ought to be made for the teaching of these sciences, experimentally, and under present conditions this could not be done at Victoria College. ' Ho also asked for a research room for himself, his assistant,' and his advanced students. This ought to be a very important branch of the work of the college. It: was the duty of the college to supply teachers for tho young, and the duty of the people to see that sufficient inducements were offered to " the successful science graduate to ensure that a fair proportion of the best students would take up a. science course. At present too maiiy of !the tat students were tempted by the larger monetary prospects to enter themselves for training in medicine, law, raid commerce. Professor Marsden ad. dressed himself also to the question of •the establishment of a Bureau of Stan, dards or National Physical Laboratory He urged that the bureau if established would supply a long-felt want of the industrial community. There was now no 'recognised, place for the testing of apparatus, or for making other tests of weights, ' lengths, and capacity V) scien. tiflc accuracy. He suggested that tha bureau "should, with the necessary laboratories, bo attached to the Physics Department of Victoria College. The bureau could there take advantage of the workshop, electrical arrangements, and valuable collection of physical standards at present in the possession of the laboratory. The bureau would thus be in a central position as regards the Dominion, and situated within easy access of the Government Departments concerned. The function of such a bureau-would be testing' and standardisation within the scope of physical science, e.g., electrical instruments and tests of'all descriptions, photometry, thermometers, pyrometers, sextants, [theodolites, lenses, standards of length;" -weight. and capacity, hydrometers, micrometers, barometers, chronometers, and gauges. The Professor of Physics at Victoria University College could be lion, director of the bureau, and a special superintendent would be appointed.

. - Wellington the Best Place. * Mr. E. W. Holmes, Chief Engineer of tie Public Works Department, leplied to suggestions from the Minister, and the Director of Education, that it would be ■better and more economical to establish the bureau of standards at Canterbury Engineering School, until such time as it might be possible to establish a big Government laboratory, to which such a branch of work' ought to be entrusted. Mr, . Holmes said that two departments of work "would have to bo done in the bureau of standards—the testing of apparatus required for industries and works, and the testing of materials. In Wellington were concentrated all the heads of: the Government Departments, and the' heads of a considerable number of industries. Testing for the. Government Departments, of which he could speak with more knowledge, ought to bo carried out under the supervision of the chief officers of the Departments, and if this-' Wer® : 'to'' bo conveniently done the work would have ijp be carried out in Wellington; where the Departments were situated.- At-prese.nt the Public Works Department did utilise the engineering school in" Christchurch for Hie testing of; materials, but only to a very moderate extent,.-for the reason that it was necessary that the officer concerned should himself seo the investigation. It possible for officers to go to ChrisfohurOliifo do this, and tho Department had had to acquire certain testing apparatus in Wellington. He believed that tho work could be better and more economically done if it were placcd undty* tho control of tho college here, as Svas beins • suggested.

A Question of Cost. Dr. Anderson (Director of Education) eaid that he quite agreed with the opinions expressed that it was necessary thnt there should be better accommodation for tho teaching of physics and chemistry at tho college. He shared in tho.general regret that more students did not take up the study of science. He hoped that tho Government would favour a proposal which was being made for tho establishment of a few science.scholarsliips on the entrance examinations for ' tho university. He quite, admitted that on additional lecture room was required, and an additional laboratory. He still {held the opinion that tho 'bureau of standards could with better advantago be established as an adjunct to the Canterbury College Engineering School, where already there was in existence much of -the equipment necessary for doing tho work. To establish such a branch of work here would involve quite heavy expenditure, and ho thought that it would be wiser to havo the work done at Christchureh until such time as it might be deemed advisable to establish a scientific laboratory for all purposes of .national importance at Wellington.

Minister's Reply, The Minister said he also regretted extremely lo hear from the professors engaged that tho study of science was not being taken up by "tho young people at tho colleges. If the war had taught any lesson it was that the nation neajecting to apply science to industry miist go down. He had loped that this lesson would not have so soon been forgotten, and he thought it was tlio duty of the Government to encourage by scholarships or bursaries the study of science in the university. The Victoria College Council was tlio third governing body of a college to approach him in his 6hort term as Minister for considerable sums of money for expansion of their institutions, and ho must say that he had been surprised at tho largeness of the demands made for University extension. In Australia there was one university for Victoria, and one for New South Wales, anil the whole resources of the States were available for theso single colleges. Ho sometimes wondered whether tho New Zealand plan of having four separato colleges was in the best interests of tho community. • On tlio whole, he thought that pprhnns | tho advantages of four colleges outweighed .tlio .disadvantages. But there could ' be jio mistake that with centralised exr pendituro the causo of science could have been moro effectively helped than with a diffused expenditure as at present. Ho would deem it is duty in tho near future to visit_ tho college and see for : himself something of the present condi- | tions,' and lo#n something of tlio re-

quirements. ne understood that the Department admitted that some buildings were needed, but whether or not the proposals of the council were not too ambitious was n matter ho must inquire into. lie took it that something would have to bo done to improvo present conditions. He would liavo pleasure in placing before Cabinet proposals for tho erection of a suitable building. Ho would not refer to the bureau of standards proposal except to say that tho wordsj of Mr. Holmes, spoken as they wero with authority, had impressed him ?erv much. It was his wish, as far aa menus would allow, to help on University extension in this country, ]mt tlio demands made on tho Treasury were very heavy indeed. Ho could see already demands for from .£300.000 to .£400.000 in connection with the four colleges. Ho would have lo sift theso claims, and go on with tho iuo6t urgent of tho works.