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Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1920, Page 2

Scientific research is becoming a pressing national question in most countries. The period of the war was an intensive time during which science was exploited to intensify the devilry of war. Now that we have swung back to peace there is the very proper desire to seek to apply tho arts of science to pursuits for the benefit of mankind as a whole—and not for its destruction. In Westland, for instance, we have long urged the application of research work to the mineral deposits jof the district. Through the Mines Department there was set up some years ago, a geological branch and a beginning was made to probe the hidden secrets of nature. But the effort was not sustained. It was merely a preliminary canter, and was confined to glossing over a large tract of country without specifically proving any section of it. In conjunction with the special interest now being devoted to scientific research, the geological branch should he brought into practical use. Scientific research of course covers a wide field, and it will be devoted no doubt largely to industries, but the mineral resources of the country i deserve special attention. In the past the mineral resources have added enorJ mously to the wealth and general proj duetivity of the country, and their aid • will lie required as much, if not more ■in the future as in the past. Looking back it is really difficult to recall what aid science has been in regard to the discovery of fresh gold fields in New Zealand. Science is the handmaiden of discovery, but she has not been used as should. What is required is to galvanise tilt- Geological Department into a practical adjunct of the mining ; industry. To follow up the work in the past by a scheme of prospecting directed on scientific lines. In the past we have been content for haphazard results, and while they have been .eminently successful, we need not always rely on chance. By applied science, ; many things are possible, and chief of | all is a more complete knowledge of I the mineral wealth of the back country j where there should be. great possibilities for remarkable developments of great value to (h,e Dominion as a. whole.