SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 66, 9 June 1927, Page 13

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

ADDRESS BY DR. MARSDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON SCIENTIFIC control of an industry stabilises that industry and makes certain that it is controlled so that there is no waste,” said Dr. E. Marsden, Director of the newly constituted Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Wellington, in addressing members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at their monthly luncheon to-day. In support of his statement, Dr. Marsden quoted figures showing the results that have been achieved in Great Britain. The electrical trades had saved over £1,000,000 in a year, and the woollen industry £2,000 a firm, he said. In the cement industry one firm had saved £25,000 a year in fuel alone. The flax industry showed a 25 per cent, increase. One of the biggest items of loss that New Zealand has to face is traceable to diseases in seeds, plants, and animals, said Dr. Marsden. This item alone was responsible for the loss of £2,500,000 last year. He stressed the need of scientists for the understanding of the work done in other countries and the application of this and our own discoveries to our own particular problemsAmerica is spending at a minimum £76,000,000 a year in industrial research, he said. “There is no doubt that the human factor in industry will have to receive increasing attention," continued the speaker. He then went on to show, quoting the seed importing industry as an example, how the application of science in New Zealand would change the whole economics of that industry. It' we grew all our own seed instead of importing it, farmers could be supplied at a cheaper rate, but on the other hand, importers would have to develop their track along the lines of home production instead of importation. Referring to the formation of the Economic Society in Auckland last night (vide the report in this issue), Dr. Marsden said that such a society would help the layman to understand exactly what scientific research and the facts and figures il pxoduced, meant.