SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4757, 29 September 1924, Page 3

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

INDUSTRIAL BUREAU SUGGESTED. SCOPE OF THE MOVEMENT. The Department of Industries and Commerce in presenting its seventh annual report states that during the past year manufacturers throughout the Dominion have been working on the preparation of a scheme for the establishment of a bureau in New Zealand that will be helpful ,in the progress and development of the secondary industries by providing adequate scientific research organisation. At a recent conference of the Industrial Corporation, held at Auckland, a report was considered m which were embodied suggestions for the establishment of the desired institution for scientific industrial research. The proposals have been submitted to the department for consideration by the Government. According to the report received, it is estimated that a subsidy of £lO,OOO would be required to be provided-by the Government for the establishment of the organisation, and for the cost of working for the first year. The suggested institute would require the appointment of certain experts, namely, a director, two research chemists, two assistant chemists, and office staff. A library is also considered as an essential, together with apparatus and working appliances. Tn view of the suggested payments by parties benefited for successful work carried out by. the bureau, it is thought that the second year’s subsidy would be reduced to £7500, and that after three or four years this would again be reduced to £5OOO, which latter sum is considered to be the general charge that the country would be called upon to pay to conduct the institution successfully. The scope of the work of the suggested bureau, of which it is proposed that the Minister of Industries and Commerce shall be head, might be embraced under the following main headings: (a) Instituting scientific researches at the request of any manufacturers’ association, firjn, or person, (b) Supplying information upon the most scientific and economic processes of manufacture in any industry. (c) Exploiting and instituting researches in connection with the latent resources of the Dominion, and testing material and apparatus necessary for the conduct of any industries which might result, (d) Conducting investigations for Government Departments. (e) To work in direct collaboration and in sympathy with all other scientific institutions throughout the world for the purpose of procuring data and information that might be of industrial benefit to the Dominion

The department is of the opinion that there is a very useful work to be performed in this connection. The co-ordination of research work, which may at present be done by separate bodies and private investigators, and dissemination of helpful information, are two very important phases of a work which is of national importance.