SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 18851, 17 June 1920, Page 5

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH. EDUCATION MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 16. The importance of establishing a system of research in the dominion was urged on the Minister of Education by a deputation representing the Council of Education and the New Zealand Institute. Professor Macmillan Brown said that there was no other way of making progress in the dominion than by encouraging research into industry by the trained minds of the country’s scientific men. He believed that a research institute and advisory council were a necessary development. Trained students should be applied to the advancement of our industries. Something like the Cawthron Institute, but on a larger scale, was needed. Research scholarships could not be utilised without proper laboratories. Dr J. Alan Thompson and Mr R. C. Kirk also urged the claim for a laboratory. The Minister said that he was entirely with the deputation that something should be done. The Department would not be doing its duty if it did not emphasise the necessity of taking such steps as would bring about research into existing industries and the possibility of establishing new industries, but he wanted more details. The first step would be to make the Cabinet acquainted with the history of the movement and create an advisory council to indicate how the proposal could be worked out. He hoped that before long some tangible results would flow from the action of the Department.