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Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1926, Page 2

The concluding passages of an address delivered last week by Sir frank Heath, SetTC-tary of tin? British Deparement of Scientific and Industrial Research, prior to his departure from 'Mew Zealand, contained a warning which it seems necessary to continue to impress on the people of tho Dominion. Tn all probability, lie said, New Zealand would find herself threatened with a. serious depression in the near future. Sir Frank Heath couched his warning in somewhat graver terms than have been employed by the business people and others in New Zealand itself who have marked the recent signs of the times. It is impossible for the country to go on importing as it has been doing, and is still doing, and to escape a period of financial stress unless there is a material increase in production. Sir Frank ITeath emphasises the need for bringing science and industry into closer touch and for giving consideration to what is being done in other countries in tho .solution of the problems that are associated with industry. He has been struck by the number and variety of the problems that are associated with industry. He has been struck by the number and variety of the problems that, await solution in New Zealand. They are problems, no doubt, that arise in every country in which industry is still in tho process of development and in which finance is not readily available for tho performance of experimental work that may in the end lie productive only of negative results.

There is also, as both Sir Ernest Rutherford and Sir Frank Heath have learnt thorough their investigations, a serious shortage in New Zealand of men trained to conduct scientific industrial research. That shortage is, of course, simply due to a lack of demand for tho services of .such men. Vet it is through the co-opera i ion of science and industry that great advances are to be cxpci tod in the exploitation of the. resources of the country and in the utilisation of what at the present time arc waste products. Developments along these lines may be slow in coming. but. if an improvement in tiroduct ion may be possible only in the course of time, there is no reason why an increase of production should not be immediately attainable. Increased production is distinctly necessary if only to secure that the economic position of the country may he maintained in the contingency of a decline in ihe prices of its products. Coupled, however, with an increase of production there should ho a. check upon importation. The balance last year of £2,800.000, in round figures, representing tho excess of the value of exports over the value of imports, was not. nearly sufficient to meet the interest charge on the external public debt; and, unless the imports in the current year are materially curtailed, the country will be fortunate if it- has not to encounter n period of fmnncia.l stress. The Coverninciit lias acted prudently in these (■ircuinstaiuc.s in appointing a departmental committee to suggest, to it. methods by which economies may be cffceed in tlv? administration of State affairs. Public economy is highly advisable, but there is a. need also tor the exercise of private ■.riiiiDinv,