SCIENCE ESSENTIAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12612, 24 November 1926, Page 8

SCIENCE ESSENTIAL

IN DEVELOPMENT OF EMPIRE , IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH STRESSED SPECIAL BUREAU PROPOSED Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 22. The report of the Research sub-com-mittee of the Imperial Conference emphasises the value of consultation and co-operation between the various portions of the Empire, and recommends further the establishment of bureaux on the lines of the existing Bureaux of Entomology and Tropical Medicine. The need for the establishing of such would he best considered by the special inter-Empire Conference, which is to be held in 1927 for;' the study of Imperial agricultural research. Similar bureaux might also be established on behalf ' of other practical arts, such as horticulture,'mining, manufacturing, and industry. These would be strictly specialised bureaux, but it would also be necessary to have organisations which ■ act as clearing nouses for the dissemination of scientific and technical information, somewhat analogous to the present Imperial Institute. CO-ORDINATION NEEDED (Received November 23, 8.10 p.m.) The experience of three British research departments, naahely, Agricultural, Medicine, and Science, shows the urgent need of direct communication between them and between corresponding organisations elsewhere in the Empire. ■ There have been many instances proving that work done on

parallel lines in different parts of the Empire, dealing with different local conditions, led to important results. While it is true that much valuable information is thus interchanged the present machinery is very v imperfect. Every official representative of each organisation in one part of the Empire should have an opposite number in each of the other parts of the Empire, for the direct exchange of information. GERMANY’S EXAMPLE The committee draws attention to the serious shortage of suitable candidates for scientific services supported by the Government. Scientific officers must he of the highest class, and be given the best training. Salaries and other inducements must be adequate to attract the best men. If it is urged that financial stringency renders such a policy unwise, the committee points out that the poorer any country is the greater is its need to develop scientific resources. The British Empire’s enormous potential resources cannot be , fully developed without-the aid of science. Germany, in the nineteenth century, provided a classic instance of the way in which a comparatively pool;- country can, by organised scientific research, immensely increase its wealth and overhaul neighbours possessing greater natural advantages. The committee states that the importance of having upon the staffs of research institutions men with experience in different parts of the Empire can hardly be exaggerated. It is of the opinion that the Press could play a great part in bringing home to the public the importance of science to the Empire, and the career it offers. AGRICULTURE ' The committee applauds the proposal to hold an Agricultural Research Conference in London in 1927, an<j urges that the various Governments should give it the fullest possible support. The report embodies a resolution noting with satisfaction the encouragement of scientific research into the problems of Empire agriculture, and particularly approves the hoard’s project of a chain of research station* in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Empire. It points oht that the Empire Marketing Board has made considerable grants for research work in connection with problems of production and transport, and also has ox tended assistance beyond foodstuffs The board made it clear that it conceives its task to be to bring scientific problems before the appropriate authorities. The committee suggests that when the board recommends a grant, or the refusal of a grant, it should attach fully qualified reports on the matter. Hie committee approves the steps taken to reorganise the Imperial Institute according to the recommendations of the Economic Conference of 1923. Earl Balfour contributes an introduction to the report, in which he trusts that the outcome of the conference will be to encourage the Empire’s States to view sympathetically these suggestions.