PLANT RESEARCH STATION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 10

PLANT RESEARCH STATION

Official Opening- In

Auckland

MR. SAVAGE’S REFERENCE TO EXPENDITURE By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 26. “Wherever science points it is our job to go. Politically speaking. we must go where it points or lie lost in the struggle for existence,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in concluding a speech at Hie formal opening of tlie administration aud laboratory building at the Mount Albert plant research station on Saturday. The ceremony, which marked an important stage in tlie process of establishing the station, which has been under way for more than two years, was attended by a gathering of several hundred people, including representatives of Government departments, local and educational authorities and agricultural and horticultural organizations. Tlie Director-General of Agriculture, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, presided in his capacity as director of tlie Plant Research Bureau. With tlie Prime Minister were the Minister iu Charge of Hie Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Mr. Sullivan: the secretary of the department, Dr. Marsden; aud the director of the Plant Diseases Division. Hr. Cunningham. Mr. Sullivan said that the present Government, since assuming office, had pursued a steady policy designed to improve the research services of tlie Dominion. He described the creation in 1936 of the Plant Research Bureau Committee, and the organization which had been set up in pursuance of its recommendations. In order to carry out its plans for extended plant research tlie Government, within the past three years, had expended a total sum of £32,164 on land,, new buildings and equipment for the agronomy division (Farm crops), in Lincoln, tlie entomology division in Nelson, the grasslands division in Palmerston North, nnd the plant diseases division in Auckland. The expenditure in Auckland had been £2600 for land, and £16,500 for buildings, and a further £6OOO would be required for the completion of the buildings ami equipment needed by the different divisions. Tlie staff of 30 ■comprised 14 professional, four technical, five clerical, and seven field officers. Staff of New Zealanders. ■‘l am proud to say that' they lire all New Zealanders, and that the scientists are all graduates of the University of New Zealand," added the Minister. “We are producing very fine scientists in this country. Some of them have doue magnificently abroad. It is said we are losing too many, perhaps because we do not provide the remuneration that is obtainable elsewhere. We do not want to lose them. We want to keep them so that they may contribute to tlie cultural aud economic life of the community.” Tn congratulating the director. Dr. Cunningham, on tlie fulfilment of his hopes, Mr. Sullivan said that if scientists wore uniforms the doctor would lie entitled to that of a genera]. Dr. Cunningham expressed the thanks of himself and his division to the Government for providing facilities, staff and equipment. ■ Mr. Savage’s Address. Mr. Savage, after remarking humorously that if the community had no political pests it would have a lot more science, quoted a sentence from Dean Swift to (lie effect that the man who made two blades ot corn or grass grow in rhe space of one did a more essential service to his country than tlie whole race of politicians put together. Labour, he added, had learnt the need for paying heed to science and not blundering along as others mid done far too much in the past.

‘‘One type of political pest says that we can’t afford to spend money as we are doing here and on other research,” remarked Mr. Savage. "I say tliat we can’t afford not to spend it, and I join with Mr. Sullivan in the hope that Mr. Walter Nash is listening. We must watch where we are going financially, but we must pay regard to science.’ Plant life was of enormous importance to any nation, and specially to New Zealand. He could give his assurance tliat tiie Government would not stop at small tilings iu developing research institutions, it realized ilia’ such work must be carried out hi many spheres. Mr. Savage then declared tiie station open.