SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 225, 17 June 1920, Page 5

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

SUGGESTIONS TO -THE! GOVERNMENT. ',

A deputation, representing the Council of Education and the New Zealand Institute interviewed the- Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) yesterday, in order to urge the importance of soiontifib research.. The' Director of Education (Dr. Anderson) introduced the deputation and referred to resolutions on the subject passed>-by the two bodies in earlier years. ..,,,. Professor Macniillan Brown saiu that the promotion of industry in.New. Zealand required the assistance of men of scientific attainments. Young scientists from the universities ought to be working on the many problems that awaited solution in the Dominion. The expense was bound to be considerable, but the .importance of the work would bo enormous. Dr. Thomson, Director of the Dominion Museum,' referred to the earlier history of the movement, which had its origin in a dispatch from. London, in 1916, suggesting co-ordination in scientific research and development. The Advisory Council in London had been granted. large funds.' New Zealand was the only country which had not get up" an Advisory Council. These existed in Oanada, Australia, and South Africa. The United ..States,' .Tapan, Italy, and France had all similar advisory liodies. The scheme proposed for New Zealand, included an expenditure of JBlflO.ooo in five years. Industrial research took .time. The Minister said that scholarships or bursaries would assist the work. He would like definite suggestions. He had thought' that a scholarship for scientific research might bo attached to each of the four colleges. Dr. Thomson replied that men would not take up research work unless they saw a career ahead. The Minister expressed sympathy- with' the objects of the deputation. The importance of scientific and industrial research was enormous.. The first step would He to make Cabinet acquainted with the history of the matter, and creating an Advisory Council to indk cato how the proposal could be worked out. It was beyond the Minister to work out details. He believed that some opening should be offered, to brilliant minds trained in scientific subjects of doing work more profitable to 'the country in research tlun' perhaps the teaching of science alone. He hoped lwfore long some tangible results.would flow from the action of -the Department.